Europe retail sales bounce back in June | Progresiv

Retail sales across Europe rose in June on a seasonally-adjusted basis, reversing a decline seen since the start of this year. The growth was driven by sales of both food and non-food products.

For June, sales were up 1.1% month-on-month across the 19-member euro area and by 1.2% month-on-month across the 28-member EU bloc.  Meanwhile, sales were up 2.6% on a year-on-year basis across the euro area and by 2.8% across the EU.

Sales of food, drinks & tobacco were up 1.2% month-on-month across the euro area and by 1% across the EU.  They also rose by 0.8% year-on-year in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU.

Meanwhile, non-food sales grew by 1.1% month-on-month in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU, even as they rose by a stronger 4.1% year-on-year in the euro area and by 4.7% in the EU.  This growth was driven by demand for apparel & footwear, but sales also grew in key categories such as pharmaceutical & medical goods as well as mail order and ecommerce.

Once again, the strongest growth came in countries in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Croatia and Poland, but the results were boosted by improved results in key markets such as Germany, the UK, and Italy. (www.kamcity.com)