In April 2019 compared with March 2019, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 0.4% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.3% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In March 2019, the retail trade volume remained unchanged in the euro area and increased by 0.3% in the EU28.
In April 2019 compared with April 2018 the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.5% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU28
Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in April 2019, compared with March 2019, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.4% for food, drinks and tobacco and for non-food products, while automotive fuel increased by 0.1%. In the EU28, the retail trade volume decreased by 0.4% for non-food products and by 0.2% for food, drinks and tobacco and for automotive fuel.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Germany (-2.0%), Portugal (-1.0%) and Croatia (-0.9%). The highest increases were observed in Sweden (+2.4%), Slovenia (+2.0%) and Malta (+1.7%).
Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in April 2019, compared with April 2018, the volume of retail trade increased by 1.5% for food, drinks and tobacco, by 1.3% for automotive fuel and by 1.2% for non-food products. In the EU28, the retail trade volume increased by 3.0% for non-food products, by 2.7% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 1.9% for automotive fuel.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (+12.7%), Lithuania (+10.2%) and Ireland (+10.1%). Decreases were observed for Germany (-0.9%) and Bulgaria (-0.2%)
Geographical information
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU28) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Methods and definitions
The index of the volume of retail trade measures the evolution of the turnover in retail trade, adjusted for price changes (deflated), i.e. the evolution of the total amount of goods sold, based on data adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects.
Seasonally adjusted euro area and EU series are calculated by aggregating the seasonally adjusted national data. Eurostat carries out the seasonal adjustment of the data for those countries that do not adjust their data for seasonal effects.
Missing observations from Member States for recent months are estimated for the calculation of the euro area and the EU aggregates.
Revisions and timetable
Data of previous months have been revised compared to those issued in the News Release 80/2019 of 6 May 2019. The monthly percentage change for March 2019 remained at 0.0% in the euro area and at +0.3% in the EU28. The annual percentage change has been revised from +1.9% to +2.0% in the euro area and remained at +2.9% in the EU28.