Europe retail sales growth slows in February | Progresiv
Retail sales across Europe recorded their second straight month of growth in February, although the pace slowed down from the previous month. 
According to new figures from Eurostat, retail volumes rose by 0.4% month-on-month on a seasonally-adjusted basis in both the 19-member euro area and the 28-member EU bloc. However, on a year-on-year basis, sales were up 2.8% in the euro area and 3.3% in the EU, marking an acceleration from the growth recorded in January.
The growth was driven by demand for non-food products – sales of such items rose by 0.9% month-on-month in the euro area and by 1% in the EU, and by 4.4% year-on-year in the euro area and 5.1% in the EU. Sales of food, drinks & tobacco were weaker, edging up 0.1% month-on-month in the euro area but declining by 0.1% in the EU, while growing by 0.6% year-on-year in the euro area and 1% in the EU. (www.kamcity.com)
