Eurozone: Retail trade volume down in July

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The euro area retail trade volume was down 0.6% in July on a monthly basis, the EU's statistical office announced Wednesday.

Eurostat stressed that the figure also posted a 0.5% drop in the EU28 -- EU member countries -- in the same period.

In June, the retail trade volume increased from May by 1.2% in the eurozone and 1.3% in the EU28.

The eurozone/euro area represents member states that use the single currency -- euro -- while the EU28 includes all member countries of the bloc.

In the euro area, "the volume of retail trade decreased by 1.0% for non-food products and by 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco, while automotive fuels remained unchanged" month-on-month in July, Eurostat said.

The retail trade volume in the EU28 dropped 0.7% for non-food products, and by 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco, while volume for automotive fuels stood at the same rate.

Among member states for which data are available, Croatia (3.3%) has the largest decreases in the total retail trade volume, followed by Germany (2.2%) and Belgium (1.4%) respectively, the statistical office said.

"The highest increases were observed in Ireland (1.9%), Slovenia (1.2%), Bulgaria and Malta (both 1.0%)," it added.