In September 2008, compared with August 2008, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.2% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.1% in the EU27. In August3 retail trade increased by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively. In September 20084, compared with September 2007, the retail sales index decreased by 1.6% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27.

Monthly changes
In September 2008, compared with August 2008, “food, drinks and tobacco” remained unchanged in both zones. The non food sector decreased by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27.
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in nine, fell in nine and remained unchanged in Denmark. The highest increases were observed in Luxembourg (+2.6%), Belgium (+1.4%) and France (+0.9%), and the largest decreases in Latvia (-4.1%), Estonia (-2.6%) and Germany (-2.3%).

Annual changes
In September 2008, compared with September 2007, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 2.0% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27. The non food sector declined by 1.1% in the euro area, but rose by 0.4% in the EU27.
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in nine and fell in ten. The highest increases were observed in Romania (+15.0%), Poland (+7.1%) and Slovakia (+4.5%), and the largest decreases in Latvia (-13.4%), Estonia (-9.9%) and Spain (-7.1%).
These first estimates come from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.