Volume of retail trade down by 0.5% in euro area

In June 2013 compared with May 2013, the volume of retail trade¹ fell by 0.5% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.3% in the EU27, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In May³ retail trade increased by 1.1% and 1.3% respectively.

In June 2013, compared with June 2012, the retail sales index dropped by 0.9% in the euro area and rose by 0.1% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

In June 2013, compared with May 2013, "Food, drinks and tobacco" decreased by 0.6% in both zones. The non-food sector dropped by 0.2% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in eleven, remained stable in Bulgaria and rose in ten. The largest decreases were registered in Estonia (-3.3%), Hungary (-1.9%), Austria (-1.7%) and Germany (-1.5%), and the highest increases in Malta (+1.8%), Luxembourg (+1.3%) and Denmark (+1.2%).

Annual comparison

In June 2013, compared with June 2012, "Food, drinks and tobacco" fell by 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27. The non-food sector decreased by 0.2% in the euro area and rose by 1.2% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in seven and rose in fifteen. The largest decreases were observed in Spain (-6.9%), Slovenia (-3.6%) and Romania (-3.1%), and the highest increases in Luxembourg (+27.5%), Lithuania (+6.7%) and Poland (+5.5%).