In September retail trade fell by 0.1% in both zones. In October 2010, compared with October 2009, the retail sales index rose by 1.8% in both zones.

Monthly changes
In October 2010, compared with September 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” rose by 1% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27. The non-food sector gained 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. Among the EU Member States for which data are available, total retail trade increased in eight and fell in eleven. The highest increases were observed in Germany (+2.3%), Belgium (+1.4%) and Sweden (+0.9%), and the largest decreases in Slovakia (-2.8%), Latvia (-1.7%) and Malta (-0.8%). 

Annual changes
In October 2010, compared with October 2009, “Food, drinks and tobacco” rose by 2% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27. The non-food sector gained 2.1% and 3.1% respectively. Among the EU Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in ten, decreased in seven and remained unchanged in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The highest increases were observed in Poland (+12.8%), Belgium (+9.4%) and Latvia (+4.9%), and the largest decreases in Malta (-6.7%), Bulgaria (-4.8%) and Slovakia (-3.7%). 

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