Euro area retail sales slightly up in July

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Euro area retail sales increased slightly by 0.3% month-on-month in July after posting a decline in June, according to the EU's statistical office on Monday.

"In the euro area in July, compared with June, the volume of retail trade increased by 0.4% for automotive fuels and by 0.1% for food, drinks, and tobacco, while it decreased by 0.4% for non-food products," read a statement by Eurostat.

On an annual basis, retail sales in the single currency zone dropped by 0.9%.

For the EU, retail sales also rose by 0.3% in June on a monthly basis, following a 1% decrease in June.

Among the 27-member states, Germany (up 1.9%), the Netherlands (up 1.7%), Luxembourg, and Poland (both up 1.5%) registered the largest hike, while the largest decreases were seen in Austria (down 1.8%), Finland (down 1.7%), and Spain (down 1.0%).

Compared to a year ago, the EU's retail sales fell by 0.5% this July, data showed.