0.2% rise in retail trade in euro area in May

In May 2015 compared with April 2015, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade rose by 0.2% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.3% in the EU282, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In April retail trade increased by 0.7% and 0.6% respectively.

Malta registered the third highest increase in total retail trade in May 2015, compared with the previous month, with a 1.1% increase. Poland (+1.5%) and Estonia (+1.4%) registered the highest increases, while the largest decreases were observed in Ireland (-2.5%), Denmark (-1.4%) and Lithuania (-1.2%).

In May 2015 compared with May 2014 the retail sales index increased by 2.4% in the euro area and by 3.0% in the EU28.

The 0.2% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in May 2015, compared with April 2015, is due to rises of 0.4% for both “Food, drinks and tobacco” and non-food products, while automotive fuel fell by 0.7%. In the EU28, the 0.3% increase in the retail trade volume is due to rises of 0.4% for “Food, drinks and tobacco” and of 0.3% for non-food products, while automotive fuel fell by 0.6%.

Annual comparison by retail sector and by member state

The 2.4% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in May 2015, compared with May 2014, is due to rises of 3.4% for non-food products, of 1.7% for “Food, drinks and tobacco” and of 0.7% for automotive fuel. In the EU28, the 3.0% increase in retail trade volume is due to rises of 4.2% for non-food products, of 2.0% for “Food, drinks and tobacco” and of 1.3% for automotive fuel.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in total retail trade were observed in Poland (+7.6%), Estonia (+5.7%) and Ireland (+5.6%), while decreases were observed in Luxembourg (-10.6%), Denmark (-2.4%) and Belgium (-1.5%).