In August 2013 compared with July 2013, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.7% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.4% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In July retail trade gained 0.5% in both zones.

In August 2013 compared with August 2012, the retail sales index fell by 0.3% in the euro area and rose by 0.3% in the EU28.

Monthly comparison

In August 2013 compared with July 2013, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU28. The non-food sector increased by 0.6% and 0.5% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in fourteen, fell in six and remained stable in Denmark. The highest increases were registered in Portugal (+4.8%), Spain (+3.8%) and Slovenia (+3.2%), and the largest decreases in Luxembourg (-1.4%), the United Kingdom (-1.1%) and Belgium (-0.9%).

Annual comparison

In August 2013 compared with August 2012, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU28. The non-food sector decreased by 0.5% in the euro area, but rose by 0.7% in the EU28.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in seven and rose in fourteen. The largest decreases were observed in Spain (-6.0%), Slovenia (-2.8%) and Denmark (-0.7%), and the highest increases in Luxembourg (+15.3%), Lithuania (+6.1%) and Bulgaria (+4.9%).