Euro Area Retail Trade Volume Unchanged, EU Down by 0.1% from April 2023

In April 2024, compared with March 2024, the seasonally adjusted retail trade volume decreased by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In March 2024, retail trade volume grew by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU.

In April 2024 compared with April 2023, the calendar adjusted retail sales index remained stable in the euro area and decreased by 0.1% in the EU.

Monthly Comparison by Retail Sector and Member State

In April 2024, the euro area saw the following changes in retail trade volume compared to March 2024:

- Food, drinks, tobacco: -0.5%

- Non-food products (except automotive fuel): -0.1%

- Automotive fuel in specialised stores: -2.2%

In the EU, the changes were:

- Food, drinks, tobacco: -0.9%

- Non-food products (except automotive fuel): stable

- Automotive fuel in specialised stores: -2.0%

Among Member States with available data, the largest monthly decreases in total retail trade volume were:

- Latvia: -3.3%

- Cyprus: -3.1%

- Denmark: -2.7%

The highest monthly increases were recorded in:

- Slovakia: +2.4%

- Bulgaria and Austria: both +1.9%

- Portugal: +1.7%

Annual Comparison by Retail Sector and Member State

In April 2024, compared to April 2023, the euro area saw the following changes in retail trade volume:

- Food, drinks, tobacco: -0.5%

- Non-food products (except automotive fuel): +0.4%

- Automotive fuel in specialised stores: +0.3%

In the EU, the changes were:

- Food, drinks, tobacco: -0.1%

- Non-food products (except automotive fuel): +0.1%

- Automotive fuel in specialised stores: stable

Among Member States with available data, the largest annual decreases in total retail trade volume were:

- Poland: -7.3%

- Belgium: -5.8%

- Estonia: -4.9%

The highest annual increases were observed in:

- Bulgaria and Romania: both +9.8%

- Croatia and Slovakia: both +8.6%

- Luxembourg: +7.3%