up by 4.8% from the previous month at base prices, said the National Statistical Institute Wednesday. Sales of foods, drinks and cigarettes rose by 3.3% and of non-foods by 5.9%. Sales were down by 0.7% from this time last year as a result of a 1.1% decrease in sales of non-foods. Retail sales were worth 3,170 million leva in the first half of the year, up by 3.7% from this time last year. The increase is 4.3% for foods, drinks and cigarettes and 3.3% for non-foods. The net revenues from sale of products and services in the “Trade and Repair of Automobiles and Household Appliances” sector were 8,560 million leva from January to June (11.1% more than the like period of 1999). A 14.4% increase is reported in wholesale trade, 10.4% in the repair of automobiles and motorcycles and 4.8% in retail trade. There was a 2.4% drop in trade in automobiles and fuels. In June the net receipts from sales totalled BGN 1,548 million or 9.1% more than the previous month at comparable prices. A growth is reported in all sectors of trade except for automobile fuels and lubricants, where a slight decrease is identified. The receipts from retail trade in June were slightly lower than this time last year: 4% for medical and pharmaceutical products, 1.1% for textile, clothing and footwear, 0.3% for foods, drinks and cigarettes. The figures, however, are higher than in May this year in all three groups (by 3.6%, 2% and 5.1% respectively)