BREAKING - Volume of Retail Trade Down by 2.0% in Euro Area and 1.7% in the EU

Belgium (Press Release) - In September 2020, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 2.0% in the euro area and by 1.7% in the EU, compared with August 2020, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In August 2020, the retail trade volume rose by 4.2% in the euro area and by 3.6% in the EU.

Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State

In the euro area in September 2020, compared with August 2020, the volume of retail trade decreased by 2.6% for non-food products, by 1.4% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.2% for automotive fuels. In the EU, the volume of retail trade decreased by 2.1% for non-food products, by 1.1% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.5% for automotive fuels. Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases were observed in Belgium (-7.4%), France (-4.5%) and Germany (-2.2%).

The highest increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Bulgaria (+2.8%), Portugal (+1.9%) and Romania (+1.7%). 

Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State

In the euro area in September 2020, compared with September 2019, the volume of retail trade increased by 2.9% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 2.6% for non-food products, while automotive fuel decreased by 3.8%. In the EU, the retail trade volume increased by 2.9% for non-food products and by 2.4% for food, drinks and tobacco, while automotive fuel decreased by 4.6%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Ireland (+11.5%), Lithuania (+6.2%), Latvia and Slovakia (both +5.9%). The largest decreases were observed in Malta (-12.2%), Slovenia (-6.9%) and Bulgaria (-6.7%). 

Read more from the original article: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/...