Although compared to the previous year, retail sales index increased by 2.6%
Comparing July 2017 with June 2017, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 0.3% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.2% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In June, the retail trade volume increased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU28.
In July 2017 compared with July 2016, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.6% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU28.
Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State
The 0.3% decrease in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in July 2017, compared with June 2017, is due to falls of 0.9% for automotive fuel and of 0.5% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”, while non-food products rose by 0.1%. In the EU28, the 0.2% fall in the volume of retail trade is due to decreases of 0.6% for automotive fuel and of 0.2% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”, while non-food products remained stable.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Germany (-1.2%), Croatia (-1.1%), Estonia and Austria (both -1.0%), while the highest increases were observed in Slovenia (+1.4%), Romania and Sweden (both +1.2%).
Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State
The 2.6% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in July 2017, compared with July 2016, is due to rises of 3.9% for non-food products, of 1.5% for “Food, drinks and tobacco” and of 0.8% for automotive fuel. In the EU28, the 2.7% increase in retail trade volume is due to rises of 4.0% for non-food products, of 1.4% for “Food, drinks and tobacco” and of 1.2% for automotive fuel.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (+10.0%), Romania (8.8%) and Poland (+7.9%), while a decrease was observed in Belgium (-1.0%).
Geographical information
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU28) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Methods and definitions
The index of the volume of retail trade measures the evolution of the turnover in retail trade, adjusted for price changes (deflated), i.e. the evolution of the total amount of goods sold, based on data adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects.
Seasonally adjusted euro area and EU series are calculated by aggregating the seasonally adjusted national data. Eurostat carries out the seasonal adjustment of the data for those countries that do not adjust their data for seasonal effects.
Missing observations from Member States for recent months are estimated for the calculation of the euro area and the EU aggregates.
