Updated
Updated · European Commission · Jul 6
Euro Area Retail Trade Rises 0.2% in May as EU Sales Gain 0.5%
Updated
Updated · European Commission · Jul 6

Euro Area Retail Trade Rises 0.2% in May as EU Sales Gain 0.5%

1 articles · Updated · European Commission · Jul 6

Summary

  • May retail trade volumes edged up 0.2% in the euro area and 0.5% across the EU, reversing April declines of 0.3% and 0.6%, Eurostat said.
  • Food, drinks and tobacco drove the monthly increase, rising 0.6% in both regions; non-food goods added 0.1% in the euro area and 0.5% in the EU, while automotive fuel fell 0.5% and 0.4%.
  • Annual growth stayed positive at 1.6% in the euro area and 1.9% in the EU, with food up 2.4% and non-food up 2.3% in the euro area, offset partly by a 4.6% drop in fuel sales.
  • Cyprus led monthly gains at 3.7%, ahead of Luxembourg at 3.6% and Poland at 2.4%, while Estonia posted the steepest fall at 2.2%; on an annual basis, Romania showed the weakest reading at minus 4.0%.

Insights

Is Europe's retail rebound a false dawn, masking deeper consumer anxiety and looming economic challenges?
As Mideast conflict slashes fuel sales, how vulnerable is the European consumer to the next global energy shock?
With new EU green rules looming, will fashion and other goods become more expensive for European shoppers?