Retail trade below estimates in both EU, eurozone

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The retail trade volume went up 0.3% in both the EU and the eurozone in June, below market expectations of 0.4%.

According to Eurostat figures released Wednesday, retail trade in June was also up 3.1% both in the 27-member union and the euro area on a yearly basis.

On a monthly basis, retail trade rose 0.6% for non-food products, 0.4% for automotive fuel, and 0.2% for food, drink, and tobacco in the eurozone, while these figures were 0.6%, 0.6%, and 0.2% for the EU, respectively.

Among member states, the highest monthly rises were seen in Croatia (3.6%), Sweden (2.6%), and Malta (2.2%).

The largest drops were seen in France (0.9%), Poland and Slovenia (both 0.8%), and Denmark (0.7%).

On a yearly basis, the highest annual increases in the total retail trade volume were seen in the Greek Cypriot Administration (8.7%), Croatia (7.4%), and Malta and Portugal (both 6.9%).

Falls were posted by Finland (1.1%) and Slovakia (0.4%).

The eurozone/euro area, or EA20, represents member states that use the EU's single currency, the euro.