According to the European Statistical Office (Eurostat), turnover generated in retail sale trade in Europe decreased in the period from September to October 2008. In the Eurozone (EZ15) turnover fell by 0.8% and by 0.3% in the EU27. As compared to October last year the retail trade sales index fell by 2.1% (Eurozone) and by 0.8% (EU27).
Monthly changes
Sales of foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco goods fell by 0.5% in the Eurozone and increased by 0.1% in the EU27 in the period from September to October this year. The respective changes in the non-food sector were -0.9% and -0.7%.
Among those member states which have already made data available turnover in retail trade increased in five countries and fell in eleven. In Bulgaria and Denmark the retail trade sales volume remained unchanged. The biggest increases were registered in Lithuania (3.5%), Finland (+2.1%) and Slovakia (+1.2%). The most significant reductions were to be found in Spain (-2.3%), Latvia (-2.2%), Luxembourg and Romania (-2.1% each).
Yearly changes
Retail sales figures for foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco goods fell by 2.1% in the Eurozone and by 1.2% in the EU27 in October 2008 as compared to October 2007. In the non-food sector the changes were -2.2% and -0.6% respectively.
The retail trade sales volume increased in eight member states and decreased in ten. The most significant increased were registered in Romania (+9.4%), Poland (+5.1%) and Slovakia (+4.6%) and the most important drops in turnover in Latvia (-14.4%), Estonia (-8.5%) and Spain (-7.8%). 