Retail sales down in eurozone in June

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Retail sales volume decreased by 0.3% in the euro area in June on yearly basis, the-27 member block's statistical authority Eurostat announced on Tuesday.

The volume of retail trade decreased for food, drinks, tobacco by 0.7%, increased for non-food products (except automotive fuel) by 0.3%, and increased for automotive fuel in specialized stores by 0.3% year-on-year in June in the euro area.

In the EU side, retail sales increased slightly by 0.1% over the same period.

The highest annual increases in the total retail trade volume were recorded in Romania (10.2%), Luxembourg (7.9%) and Croatia (5.4%).

The largest decreases were observed in Belgium (7.3%), Estonia (4.1%) and Austria (3.9%).