Retail Trade Volume in Euro Area Down by 1.2% M/M

In October 2012, as compared to September 2012, the volume of retail trade fell by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27, according to Eurostat data.

In September, retail trade decreased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27.

In October 2012, as compared to October 2011, the retail sales index fell by 3.6% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU27.

In October 2012, as compared to  September 2012, "Food, drinks and tobacco" fell by 0.8% in both zones.

The non-food sector declined by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in sixteen and rose in five.

The largest decreases were observed in Portugal (-4.5%), Finland (-3.0%) and Germany (-2.8%), and the highest increases in Ireland (+1.9%), Lithuania (+0.8%) and Belgium (+0.7%).

In October 2012, as compared to October 2011, "Food, drinks and tobacco" fell by 2.9% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27. The non-food sector decreased by 3.5% and 1.6% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in eleven, rose in nine and remained stable in Romania.

The largest decreases were observed in Spain (-11.5%), Portugal and Slovenia (both -6.7%)

and Poland (-4.4%), and the highest increases in Latvia (+9.2%), Luxembourg (+7.0%) and Estonia (+6.4%).

In Bulgaria, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.4% on a monthly basis and by 4.3% on an annual basis in October 2012.