OREANDA-NEWS. In August 2015 compared with July 2015, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade remained stable in both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In July retail trade rose by 0.6% and 0.4% respectively.

In August 2015 compared with August 2014 the retail sales index increased by 2.3% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU28.

Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State

The stable volume of retail trade in the euro area in August 2015, compared with July 2015, is due to rises of 1.8% for automotive fuel and of 0.8% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”, while non-food products fell by 0.3%. In the EU28, the stable volume of retail trade is due to rises of 1.4% for automotive fuel and of 0.5% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”, while non-food products fell by 0.2%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in total retail trade were registered in Portugal (+1.5%), Ireland (+0.9%) and Poland (+0.8%), while the largest decreases were observed in Luxembourg (-1.5%), Sweden (-1.2%), Estonia and Finland (both -1.1%).

Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State

The 2.3% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in August 2015, compared with August 2014, is due to rises of 3.6% for automotive fuel, of 2.5% for “Food, drinks and tobacco” and of 2.0% for non-food products. In the EU28, the 2.6% increase in retail trade volume is due to rises of 3.3% for automotive fuel, of 2.7% for non-food products and of 2.5% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in total retail trade were observed in Romania (+8.5%), Ireland (+7.7%), Poland (+5.7%), Estonia and Latvia (both +5.5%), Lithuania (+5.4%) and Malta (+5.3%), while decreases were observed in Luxembourg (-12.6%), Bulgaria (-1.9%), Belgium (-1.7%), Finland (-0.7%) and Austria (-0.2%).