Volume of retail trade slipped 3.1% month-on-month in both the euro area and the EU in April, according to data released by the EU’s statistical authority on Friday.
Retail trade volume in the eurozone dipped 5.1% for non-food products and 2% for food, drinks, and tobacco while rising 0.4% for automotive fuels, Eurostat said.
In the EU, it fell 4.7% for non-food products and 1.9% for food, drinks, and tobacco, but remained stable for automotive fuels.
The largest monthly decreases were registered in Slovenia (-10.4%), Denmark (-8.6%), and France (-6.0%).
The highest increases were in Portugal ( 4.3%), Latvia ( 3.8%), and Lithuania ( 3.7%).
The eurozone/euro area, or EA19, represents member states that use the single currency – euro – while the EU27 includes all member countries of the bloc.
With last year’s figures hitting extraordinary lows due to the coronavirus pandemic, the calendar adjusted volume of retail trade this April was 23.9% higher in the euro area and 22.4% in the EU compared to April 2020.
