Volume of retail trade down by 0.2% in euro area Down by 0.1% in EU27

In September 2010, compared with August 2010, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.2% in the euro area2 (EA16) and by 0.1% in the EU27. In August3 retail trade fell by 0.2% in both zones. In September 20104, compared with September 2009, the retail sales index rose by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27.

In September 2010, compared with August 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” decreased by 0.1% in the euro area, but rose by 0.3% in the EU27. The non food sector declined by 0.3% in both zones.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in eight and increased in twelve. The largest decreases were observed in Germany (-2.3%), Portugal (-1.4%) and Ireland (-1.0%), and the highest increases in Belgium (+1.9%), Poland (+1.6%) and Austria (+1.5%).

In September 2010, compared with September 2009, “Food, drinks and tobacco” rose by 0.1% in the euro area, but declined by 0.5% in the EU27. The non food sector increased by 2.6% and 3.5% respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in eleven and decreased in nine. The highest increases were observed in Poland (+9.9%), Belgium (+8.5%) and Latvia (+6.1%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-4.9%), Bulgaria (-4.7%) and Slovakia (-1.8%).

News source: Eurostat link: article