Volume of retail trade down by 0.4% in euro area

In March 2008, compared with February 2008, the volume of retail trade1 fell by 0,4% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0,7% in the EU27, in February3 retail trade fell by 0,2% and rose by 0,6%
respectively.

In March 20084, compared with March 2007, the retail sales index fell by 1.6% in the euro area, but rose by 0.4% in the EU27.

Monthly changes
In March 2008, compared with February 2008, «food, drinks and tobacco» decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27. The non food sector fell by 0.6% and 0.8%
respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose only in Sweden ( 0.4%) and Bulgaria ( 0.2%), remained unchanged in Romania and fell in sixteen. The
largest decreases were observed in Slovenia (-8.1%), Portugal (-4.1%), Luxembourg (-3.9%) and Estonia (-3.8%).

Annual changes
In March 2008, compared to March 2007, retail trade of «food, drinks and tobacco» fell by 2.7% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 0.9% and
grew by 1.4% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in nine and fell in ten. The highest increases were observed in Romania ( 16.2%), Slovakia ( 10.4%), Lithuania
( 9.0%) and Bulgaria ( 8.7%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-5.3%), Estonia (-4.9%), Denmark (-4.6%) and Luxembourg (-4.2%).