The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 1.5% month-on-month in both the euro area and the EU in October, the latest data from Eurostat has shown.
The calendar-adjusted retail sales index for October 2020 registered a 4.3% year-on-year growth in the euro area and a 4.2% increase in the EU.
Monthly Comparison
The month-on-month retail trade volume increased by 2.0% for both non-food products and food, drinks, and tobacco items in the euro area.
In the EU, the volume of retail trade increased by 2.0% for non-food products and by 1.9% for food, drinks and tobacco compared to the previous month.
The figures for automotive fuels declined by 3.7% in the euro area and by 3.4% in the EU.
Denmark (+8.3%), Croatia (+6.5%) and France (+2.8%) witnessed the highest growth in total retail trade volume among member states for which data was available, Eurostat added.
The sharpest decline was seen in Slovenia (-1.4%), Slovakia (-1.2%), the Netherlands (-0.7%) and Luxembourg (-0.3%).
Annual Comparison
In October, the year-on-year retail trade volume increased by 5.4% for non-food products and 5.1% for food, drinks, and tobacco.
Within the non-food category, mail orders and online trade saw a 28.5% growth, while textiles, clothing and footwear trade decreased by 14.0%.
In the EU, the retail trade volume increased by 5.7% for non-food products and 4.6% for food, drinks and tobacco.
Within the non-food category, mail orders and online trade grew by 29.2%, while textiles, clothing and footwear trade saw a 13.0% growth.
Ireland (+13.8%), Denmark (+12.5%), Lithuania (+8.5%) saw the highest yearly growth in the total retail trade volume, while Slovenia (-11.1%), Malta (-7.2%) and Bulgaria (-5.3%) reported the sharpest decline.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
