Retail trade volume in euro area, EU rises 0.1% in August

The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade in both the euro area and the EU edged up by 0.1% in August compared to July, according to preliminary estimates released by Eurostat on Tuesday.

In July, retail trade volume had dropped by 0.6% in the single-currency zone and by 0.5% in the 27-member bloc.

On an annual basis, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index rose by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.2% across the EU in August.

Non-food product sales excluding automotive fuel drove the monthly growth in both regions, rising by 0.5%.

Sales of food, drinks, and tobacco recorded a monthly increase of 0.1% in the euro area and 0.3% in the EU, while automotive fuel sales dropped by 1.9% and 1.3%, respectively.

Among member states with available data, Romania registered the highest monthly gain at 2.3%, followed by Sweden at 1.4% and Germany at 1.3%.

Conversely, Luxembourg recorded the steepest monthly decline at 9.4%, followed by Malta at 1.9% and Latvia at 1.4%.