Monthly changes
In May 2008, compared with April 2008, “food, drinks and tobacco” increased by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27. The non food sector gained 1.7% and 1.6% respectively.
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in eight, fell also in eight and remained unchanged in Bulgaria and Slovenia. The highest increases were observed in Luxembourg (+4.6%), the United Kindom (+2.2%) and Austria (+1.6%), and the largest decreases in Lithuania and Romania (both -6.3%) and Latvia (-2.4%).
Annual changes
In May 2008, compared to May 2007, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.4% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27. The non food sector grew by 1.1% and 3.6% respectively.
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in thirteen Member States and fell in five. The highest increases were observed in the United Kindom (+7.2%), Lithuania (+7.0%) and Romania (+6.8%), and the largest decreases in Estonia, Spain and Latvia (all -5.1%).
