Volume of retail trade down by 1% in euro area

In March 2011, compared with February 2011, the volume of retail trade fell by 1% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.8% in the EU27. In February retail trade rose by 0.3% and 0.1% respectively.

In March 2011, compared with March 2010, the retail sales index decreased by 1.7% in the euro area and by 1% in the EU27.

Monthly changes
In March 2011, compared with February 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” declined by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 1.1% in both zones.
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade declined in thirteen and increased in eight.

The largest decreases were observed in Portugal (-4.7%), Slovenia (-3%), Germany (-2.1%) and Poland (-1.9%), and the highest increases in Estonia (+2.1%), Romania (+0.8%), Ireland and Latvia (both +0.6%).

Annual changes
In March 2011, compared with March 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 2.1% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27. The non food sector fell by 0.8% in the euro area, but increased by 0.4% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade decreased in nine and rose in twelve. The largest decreases were observed in Spain (-9.6%), Denmark (-8.7%) and Portugal (-6.8%), and the highest increases in Poland (+6.9%), Luxembourg (+5.7%) and Lithuania (+5.2%).

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

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