Volume of retail trade down 0.6% in euro area in July: Eurostat | Progresiv
The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade declined 0.6% month-on-month in July in the euro area, according to latest data from Eurostat. 
The EU28 witnessed a 0.5% month-on-month decline in the volume of retail trade during the same period.
In June 2019, the retail trade volume increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU28, data has revealed.
In July 2019, the month-on-month volume of retail trade decreased by 1.0% for non-food products and by 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco in the euro area.
In the EU28, the retail trade volume decreased by 0.7% for non-food products and by 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco.
The figures remained unchanged for automotive fuels in the euro area aa well as EU28 during the period.
Croatia (-3.3%), Germany (-2.2%) and Belgium (-1.4%) witnessed the highest decline in total retail trade volume among member states for which data was available, Eurostat said.
The highest increases were observed in Ireland (+1.9%), Slovenia (+1.2%), Bulgaria and Malta (both +1.0%) during the same period.
The calendar-adjusted retail sales index was up by 2.2% in the euro area, while the EU28 witnessed a 2.6% increase on a year-on-year basis in July 2019.
In the euro area, the volume of retail trade increased by 2.8% for non-food products, 2.0% for automotive fuel and 1.3% for food, drinks and tobacco in July 2019 compared with the same period last year.
In the EU28, the retail trade volume increased by 3.7% for non-food products, 2.4% for automotive fuel, and 1.2% for food, drinks and tobacco for the same period.
Highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were seen in Romania (+7.5%), Malta (+6.5%), Hungary and Slovenia (both +6.3%), while Slovakia registered a 0.8% decline. (www.esmmagazine.com)
