Euro area seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade in March increased by 0.8% month-over-month, up 0.7% year-over-year: Eurostat

LUXEMBOURG , May 7, 2024 (press release) –

Up by 0.7% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU compared with March 2023

Overview
In March 2024, compared with February 2024, the seasonally adjusted retail trade volume increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In February 2024, retail trade volume fell by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU.

In March 2024 compared with March 2023, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 0.7% the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU.

Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in March 2024, compared with February 2024, the volume of retail trade

• increased for food, drinks, tobacco by 1.2%,
• remained stable for non-food products (except automotive fuel),
• increased for automotive fuel in specialised stores by 2.0%.

In the EU, the volume of retail trade

• increased for food, drinks, tobacco by 0.8%,
• increased for non-food products (except automotive fuel) by 0.5%,
• increased for automotive fuel in specialised stores by 1.5%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest monthly increases in the total retail trade volume were recorded in Poland (+7.3%), Cyprus (+4.8%) and Hungary (+2.0%). The largest decreases were observed in Sweden (-1.8%), Malta (-1.0%) and Austria (-0.8%).

Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State 
In the euro area in March 2024, compared with March 2023, the volume of retail trade

• increased for food, drinks, tobacco by 1.1%,
• increased for non-food products (except automotive fuel) by 0.8%,
• decreased for automotive fuel in specialised stores by 0.6%.

In the EU, the volume of retail trade

• increased for food, drinks, tobacco by 1.0%,
• increased for non-food products (except automotive fuel) by 3.0%,
• decreased for automotive fuel in specialised stores by 0.5%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest annual increases in the total retail trade volume were recorded in Poland (+14.8%), Luxembourg (+10.3%) and Croatia (+8.9%). The largest decreases were observed in Belgium (-4.6%), Estonia (-2.3%) and Austria (-2.0%).

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