In October 2011, compared with September 2011, the volume of retail trade grew by 0.4% in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27. In September retail trade fell by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27.

In October 20114, compared with October 2010, the retail sales index decreased by 0.4% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

In October 2011, compared with September 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” rose by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27. The non food sector grew by 0.5% and 0.8% respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in eleven and fell in ten. The largest increases were observed in Malta (+3.7%), Romania (+2.0%) and Poland (+1.4%), and the highest decreases in Portugal (-3.3%), Latvia (-2.9%) and Denmark (-2.0%).

Annual comparison

In October 2011, compared with October 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 0.6% in the euro area, but rose by 0.3% in the EU27. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in eleven and decreased in ten. The largest increases were observed in Lithuania (+9.5%), Luxembourg (+8.9%) and Latvia (+4.9%), and the highest decreases in Portugal (-9.7%), Spain (-6.8%) and Denmark (-5.9%). Malta stood at +1.2%.

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

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