Eurostat Releases Statistics On EU Retail Sales In April 2010

In June 3, 2010, the European Bureau of statistics released the retail sales statistics report for April 2010.

Statistics show that compared with March 2010, retail sales in the 16 countries of the euro area and 27 countries in the EU dropped by 1.2% in April 2010.

In March 2010, both retail sales increased by 0.5%.

Compared with April 2009, retail sales in the 16 euro zone countries and 27 European Union countries in April 2010 dropped by 1.5% and 1.6% compared to the same period last year.

In terms of monthly change, compared with March 2010, sales of food, beverages and cigarettes in the 16 countries of the euro area and 27 countries in the European Union decreased by 1.1% and 1.4% respectively in April 2010.

The sales of both non food products fell by 1.1% and 1.2% respectively.

For the EU member states with statistical data, retail sales in 14 member countries have declined and 5 member countries have increased.

European Union members with larger retail sales are Poland (-8.7%), Denmark (-8.6%), Slovakia (-3.6%) and Spain (-2.1%) respectively.

European Union members with larger retail sales growth rates are Belgium (+1.8%) and Germany (+1.0%) respectively.

In terms of annual change, compared with April 2009, sales of food, beverages and cigarettes decreased by 1.8% and 2.6% in the 16 countries of the euro area and 27 EU countries in April 2010 respectively.

Over the same period, sales of non food commodities in the 16 countries of the euro area and 27 EU countries were 1.1% lower than the same period last year and 0.1% respectively.

For the EU member states with statistical data, retail sales in 15 member countries have declined, and retail sales in 4 member countries have increased.

European Union member states with a larger decrease in retail sales were Bulgaria (-11.7%), Lithuania (-11.7%), Denmark (-8.3%) and Latvia (-7.7%) respectively.

European Union members with larger retail sales growth rates are Malta (+8.7%) and Belgium (+0.7%) respectively.

(Ministry of Commerce)