Volume of retail trade up by 0.2% in both euro area and EU27

The FINANCIAL — In July 2011, compared with June 2011, the volume of retail trade grew by 0.2% in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27.

In June retail trade rose by 0.7% and 0.5% respectively.

In July 20114, compared with July 2010, the retail sales index decreased by 0.2% in both zones.

These first estimates come from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Monthly changes

In July 2011, compared with June 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. The non food sector increased by 0.5% and 0.6% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade grew in ten, fell in nine and remained stable in Germany and Spain. The largest increases were observed in Portugal (+2.5%), Romania (+2.2%) and Latvia (+1.8%), and the highest decreases in Malta (-3.4%), Finland (-1.9%) and Denmark (-1.7%).

Annual changes

In July 2011, compared with July 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 2.0% in the euro area and by 2.2% in the EU27. The non food sector increased by 1.7% in both zones.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in twelve and decreased in nine. The largest decreases were observed in Malta (-8.9%), Portugal (-5.3%) and Denmark (-5.1%), and the highest increases in Luxembourg (+8.3%), Lithuania (+7.8%) and Latvia (+6.4%).