Turnover generated by retail trade in EU up in August

In comparison with July this year, turnover generated in the retail trade business increased by 0.3% in August in the Eurozone (EZ15) and by 0.4% in the EU27. Thus, the increases were bigger than in July (+0.1% and +0.3% compared to June. In the period from August 2007 to August 2008 the retail trade index fell by 1.8% in the Eurozone and by 0.2% in the EU27. For the time being these figures are just estimates made by Eurostat, the European Statistical Office.

Monthly changes

Turnover increased both in the food and non-food sectors in August as compared to July this year. Sales of foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco goods increased by 0.7% in the Eurozone and by 0.3% in the EU27. The non-food sector grew by 0.1% and 0.4% respectively.

Among those member states which made data available, the retail trade volume increased in ten member countries, fell in seven of them and remained unchanged in Denmark. Mostly grew the retail trade sectors in Luxembourg (+6.8%), Germany (+3.1%), Slovenia and Finland (+1.4% each). The biggest drops were registered in Lithuania (-2.5%), Latvia (-1.2%) and Austria (-0.8%).

Annual changes

Turnover generated by foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco goods fell by 2.0% in August this year as compared to August last year in the Eurozone and by 1.8% in the EU27. The non-food sector volume fell by 1.6% in the Eurozone and increased by 1.0% in the EU27.

Among those member states which made data available the retail trade volume increased in eleven member countries and fell in seven of them. The most significant increases were registered in Romania (+17.3%), Slovenia (+6.9%) and Poland (+6.2%) while the biggest drops were to be found in Latvia (-8.9%), Estonia (-6.7%) and Spain (-5.8%). GERMAN

Matomo