Eurozone Retail Trade Volume Climbs For 2Nd Straight Month

The eurozone retail trade volume posted a rise for the second month in a row in March, according to figures released by the EU's statistical authority on Thursday.

The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade rose by 2.7% in the euro area from a month earlier, Eurostat said.

Retail trade volume in the eurozone climbed 4.6% for non-food products and 1% for food, drinks and tobacco, while decreasing 2.9% for automotive fuels.

Retail trade also increased 2.5% in the EU during the same period.

"Among Member States for which data are available, the highest monthly increases in total retail trade were registered in Denmark (22.5%), the Netherlands (8.4%), Germany and Lithuania (both 7.7%)," read a Eurostat statement.

"The largest decreases were observed in Croatia (-4.0%), Poland (-2.2%) and Austria (-1.9%)."

The eurozone/euro area, or EA19, represents member states that use the single currency – euro – while the EU27 includes all member countries of the bloc.

Battered by the coronavirus pandemic last year, the calendar adjusted volume of retail trade in March jumped 12% in the euro area and 11.6% in the EU compared to March 2020.

The highest annual rise in total retail trade volume was seen in Slovenia (24%), Denmark (22.6%) and France (21.3%), while it declined the most in Hungary (-2.1%), Portugal (-1.1%) and Malta (-0.1%), according to Eurostat. -