In December 2011, compared with November 2011, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.4% in the euro area (EA17), while it rose by 0.3% in the EU27. In November retail trade decreased by 0.4% and 0.2% respectively.

In December 2011, compared with December 2010, the retail sales index decreased by 1.6% in the euro area and grew by 0.1% in the EU27.

The average volume of retail trade index for 2011, compared with 2010, fell by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

In December 2011, compared with November 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.2% in the euro area and rose by 0.3% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and grew by 0.3% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in eleven, remained unchanged in Ireland and Sweden and rose in eight Member States. The largest decreases were observed in Malta and Slovenia (both -3.1%) and Latvia (-2.0%), and the highest increases in Portugal (+2.2%), Belgium (+1.5%) and Poland (+0.7%).

Annual comparison

In December 2011, compared with December 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.3% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 1.5% in the euro area, but rose by 0.8% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in ten and rose in eleven. The largest decreases were observed in Portugal (-8.8%), Spain (-5.3%) and Slovakia (-3.3%), and the highest increases in Lithuania (+13.0%), Latvia (+7.1%) and the United Kingdom (+6.3%).