In April 2010, compared with March 2010, the volume of retail trade decreased by 1.2% in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27. In March retail trade rose by 0.5% in both zones.

In April 20104, compared with April 2009, the retail sales index declined by 1.5% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In April 2010, compared with March 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 1.1% and 1.2% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in fourteen and rose in five. The highest decreases were observed in Poland (-8.7%), Denmark (-8.6%), Slovakia (-3.6%) and Spain (-2.1%), and the largest increases in Belgium (+1.8%) and Germany (+1.0%).

Annual changes

In April 2010, compared with April 2009, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.8% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27. The non food sector declined by 1.1% in the euro area, but rose by 0.1% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in fifteen and rose in four. The largest decreases were observed in Bulgaria and Lithuania (both -11.7%), Denmark (-8.3%) and Latvia (-7.7%), and the highest increases in Malta (+8.7%) and Belgium (+0.7%).