In August 2010, compared with July 2010, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.4% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.3% in the EU27. In July retail trade rose by 0.1% in both zones.

In August 20104, compared with August 2009, the retail sales index grew by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In August 2010, compared with July 2010, "Food, drinks and tobacco" fell by 0.7% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU27. The non food sector grew by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data was available, total retail trade fell in thirteen and increased in six. The largest decreases were recorded in Austria (-3.6%), Slovenia (-2.6%) and Malta (-2.1%), and the highest increases in Romania (+5.2%), Lithuania (+1.3%) and Spain (+1.1%).

Annual changes

In August 2010, compared with August 2009, "Food, drinks and tobacco" fell by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.7% in the EU27. The non food sector rose by 2.5% and 3.6% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data was available, total retail trade rose in ten and decreased in nine. The highest increases were observed in Poland (+6.7%), Finland (+5.5%) and Latvia (+4.6%), and the largest decreases in Lithuania (-6.9%), Spain (-4.6%) and Bulgaria (-4.3%), Malta stood at -1.0%.

These first estimates come from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

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