The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade declined 0.6% month-on-month in July in the euro area, according to latest data from Eurostat.
The EU28 witnessed a 0.5% month-on-month decline in the volume of retail trade during the same period.
In June 2019, the retail trade volume increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU28, data has revealed.
Monthly Comparison
In the euro area, the month-on-month volume of retail trade decreased by 1.0% for non-food products and by 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco, while in the EU28, the retail trade volume decreased by 0.7% for non-food products and by 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco.
The figures remained unchanged for automotive fuels in the euro area as well as the EU28 during the period.
Croatia (-3.3%), Germany (-2.2%) and Belgium (-1.4%) witnessed the highest decline in total retail trade volume among member states for which data was available, Eurostat said.
The highest increases were observed in Ireland (+1.9%), Slovenia (+1.2%), and Bulgaria and Malta (both +1.0%) during the same period.
Annual Comparison
The calendar-adjusted retail sales index was up by 2.2% in the euro area, while the EU28 witnessed a 2.6% increase on a year-on-year basis in July 2019.
Compared with the same month last year, the volume of retail trade increased by 2.8% for non-food products, 2.0% for automotive fuel and 1.3% for food, drinks and tobacco in the euro area in July 2019.
In the EU28, the retail trade volume increased by 3.7% for non-food products, 2.4% for automotive fuel, and 1.2% for food, drinks and tobacco for the same period.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
