Urgent.. Retail sales in Switzerland fell short of expectations in December.

Data released by the Federal Statistics Office in Switzerland on Monday morning showed a negative trend in the country's retail sales during December, with retail sales contracting by 0.8% year-on-year, which was worse than the expected growth of 1.3%. The previous reading for retail sales in Switzerland showed a growth of 1.5% in November, after being revised from a growth of 1.4%.

This indicator measures the change in the total value of inflation-adjusted retail sales; it serves as a measure of the value of goods sold by retailers based on a sample of retail stores of various types and sizes, including all sales made through the internet.

An increase in the reading above expectations is positive for movement in the Swiss franc, but if the reading is below expectations, it will have a negative impact on the movement of the Swiss franc.

It is also considered a fundamental measure of consumer spending, which represents the majority of economic activity overall; an increase in retail sales indicates more spending, and the reading of the indicator reflects the trend in retail sales and demand for certain types over others.