The FINANCIAL — In October 2021, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU, compared with September 2021, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In September 2021, the retail trade volume decreased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU, according to Eurostat.
In October 2021 compared with October 2020, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.4% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU.
Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in October 2021, compared with September 2021, the volume of retail trade increased by 1.3% for
automotive fuels and by 0.4% non-food products, while it fell for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.1%.
In the EU, the volume of retail trade increased by 1.3% for automotive fuels, by 0.6% for non-food products and by 0.2% for food, drinks and tobacco.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest monthly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (+13.0%), Portugal (+2.3%) and Denmark (+2.2%). The largest decreases were observed in Latvia (-5.4%), Austria (-2.8%) and Estonia (-2.6%).
Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in October 2021, compared with October 2020, the volume of retail trade increased by 8.5% for
automotive fuels and by 2.5% non-food products, while it fell for food, drinks and tobacco by 1.2%.
In the EU, the retail trade volume increased by 9.0% for automotive fuels and by 3.8% non-food products, while it fell for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.8%, according to Eurostat.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (+34.3%), Poland (+12.4%) and Estonia (+11.0%). The largest decreases were observed in Germany (-2.8%), Latvia (-2.3%) and Ireland (-1.9%).
Geographical information
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
Methods and definitions
The index of the volume of retail trade measures the evolution of the turnover in retail trade, adjusted for price changes (deflated), i.e. the evolution of the total amount of goods sold, based on data adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects.
Seasonally adjusted euro area and EU series are calculated by aggregating the seasonally adjusted national data. Eurostat carries out the seasonal adjustment of the data for those countries that do not adjust their data for seasonal effects.
Missing observations from Member States for recent months are estimated for the calculation of the euro area and the EU aggregates.
Revisions and timetable
Data of previous months have been revised compared to those issued in the News Release 127/2021 of 5 November 2021. The monthly percentage change for September 2021 has been revised from -0.3% to -0.4% in the euro area and from -0.2% to -0.3% in the EU. The annual percentage change has been revised from +2.5% to +2.6% in the euro area and from +3.2% to +3.4% in the EU.
Discussion about this post