RETAIL trade sales figures for December and for the fourth quarter of 1998 show that real retail trade sales have kept up the declining trend that set in at the beginning of 1998. According to figures released on Wednesday by Statistics South Africa, real retail trade sales (at constant 1995 prices) for 1998 decreased by 0,1% compared with 1997, with 11 of the 20 merchandise categories reflecting decreases. Thirteen of the 20 merchandise categories reflected decreases, led by fall in “other domestic furnishings” and “sport and recreation requisites”.