Volume of retail trade in August down by 0.1% in both Euro Area and EU28
In August 2016 compared with July 2016, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 0.1 % in both the Euro Area (EA19) and the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In July the retail trade volume increased by 0.3 % in the euro area and by 0.5 % in the EU28
In August 2016 compared with August 2015, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 0.6 % in the euro area and by 2.1 % in the EU28.
Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State
The 0.1% decrease in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in August 2016, compared with July 2016, is due to falls of 0.4 % for “Food, drinks and tobacco” and of 0.1 % for the non-food products, while automotive fuel rose by 0.2 %. In the EU28, the 0.1 % decrease in the volume of retail trade is due to falls of 0.2 % for both “Food, drinks and tobacco” and non-food products, while automotive fuel rose by 0.2 %.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in total retail trade were observed in Estonia, Poland and Finland (all -0.6 %), while the highest increases were registered in Luxembourg (+3.6 %), Ireland (+1.5 %) and Slovakia (+1.0 %).
Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State
The 0.6% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in August 2016, compared with August 2015, is due to rises of 1.3 % for the non-food products, of 1.2 % for automotive fuel and of 0.1 % for “Food, drinks and tobacco”. In the EU28, the 2.1 % increase in retail trade volume is due to rises of 2.9 % for both the non-food products and for automotive fuel and of 1.0 % for “Food, drinks and tobacco”.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in total retail trade were observed in Luxembourg (+12.6 %), Romania (+11.7 %) and Poland (+10.8 %), while decreases were observed in France (-1.5 %) and Denmark (-0.8 %).