In June 2006, compared to June 2005, the volume of retail trade grew by 1.5% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU25. Compared to May 2006, the retail sales index rose by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU25.

Annual changes
In June 2006, compared to June 2005, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” gained 1.4% in the euro area and 2.4% in the EU25. The non food sector increased by 1.6% and 2.9% respectively.
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in Latvia (+20.9%), Estonia (+17.8%), Slovakia (+11.2%), Sweden (+7.5%), Poland (+7.3%), Finland (+6.5%), Lithuania (+6.0%), the United Kingdom (+4.1%), Denmark (+4.0%), Austria (+3.9%), Slovenia (+2.1%), Germany (+1.9%), France (+1.5%) and Spain (+0.7%), while falls were recorded in Portugal (-4.8%), Luxembourg (-4.7%) and Belgium (-1.3%).

Monthly changes
In June 2006, compared with May 2006, “food, drinks and tobacco” gained 1.1% in both the euro area and the EU25. The non food sector fell by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade increased in Austria (+2.3%), Poland (+2.1%), Germany (+1.9%), Estonia and Latvia (both +1.8%), Lithuania (+1.3%), Slovakia (+1.2%), Finland (+0.9%), the United Kingdom (+0.8%), Sweden (+0.4%), Belgium and France (both +0.3%), and remained stable in Denmark, while falls were recorded in Luxembourg (-3.0%), Portugal (-1.7%), Spain (-0.3%) and Slovenia (-0.1%).