November 2011 compared with October 2011 Volume of retail trade down by 0.8% in euro area Down by 0.6% in EU27

In November 2011, compared with October 2011, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.8% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.6% in the EU27. In October retail trade rose by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. In November 2011, compared with November 2010, the retail sales index decreased by 2.5% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27. Malta had the second highest decrease in total retail trade at -1.6% behind Portugal which stood at -2.6%. This is a big difference to the October figures when Malta had the largest increase in total retail trade at +3.7%.

In November 2011, compared with October 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 0.7% in both zones. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in thirteen and rose in seven. The highest decreases were observed in Portugal (-2.6%), Malta (-1.6%), Romania (-1.0%), Germany, Poland and Finland (all -0.9%), and the largest increases in Lithuania (+4.2%), Ireland (+2.0%) and Latvia (+1.9%).

In November 2011, compared with November 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 3.0% and 1.1% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in ten and rose in ten. The highest decreases were observed in Portugal (-9.2%), Spain (-7.0%) and Bulgaria (-5.3%), and the largest increases in Lithuania (+14.1%), Latvia (+7.6%) and Estonia (+3.9%). Malta stood at (-2.5%).

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

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