By Aysu Bicer
ANKARA (AA) - The EU retail trade volume fell 1.7% in September compared to August, the EU's statistical authority said on Thursday.
In August, the retail trade volume rose by 3.6% in the EU, Eurostat noted.
The calendar adjusted retail sales index in the EU increased by 2.1% in September compared to the same month last year, it said.
"The volume of retail trade decreased by 2.1% for non-food products, by 1.1% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.5% for automotive fuels," it said.
The largest drops were registered in Belgium (-7.4%),France (-4.5%), and Germany (-2.2%), while the highest increases in the total retail trade volume were seen in Bulgaria (2.8%), Portugal (1.9%), and Romania (1.7%).
Meanwhile, the annual retail trade volume increased by 2.9% for non-food products and by 2.4% for food, drinks and tobacco, while automotive fuel decreased by 4.6%.