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.