UPDATE - Eurozone retail trade volume down in May

UPDATES WITH ANNUAL FIGURES

By Muhammed Ali Gurtas

ANKARA (AA) - The eurozone retail trade volume posted a 0.3% monthly fall in May, the EU's statistical office announced Thursday.

Eurostat noted that the figure also saw a 0.4% decrease in the EU28 over the same period.

In the previous month, the retail trade volume decreased by 0.1% both in the euro area and the EU28.

The eurozone/euro area or EA19 represents member states that use the single currency -- euro -- while the EU28 includes all member countries of the bloc.

"In the euro area in May 2019, compared with April 2019, the volume of retail trade decreased by 1.3% for automotive fuel, by 0.5% for food, drinks and tobacco, and by 0.1% for non-food products," Eurostat said.

Official data revealed that the retail trade volume in the EU28 dropped 1.6% for automotive fuel, by 0.5% for food, drinks and tobacco, and by 0.3% for non-food products.

"Among member states for which data are available, the largest decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Croatia (down 4.4%), Lithuania (down 3.0%) and Sweden (down 2.8%).

"The highest increases were observed in Portugal (up 1.5%), Spain (up 1.1%) and Belgium (up 1.0%)," the statistical office said.

- Annual figures

Eurostat said the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.3% both in the eurozone and in the EU28 in May compared with the same month last year.

On a yearly basis, the euro area retail trade volume rose by 2.2% for non-food products, remained unchanged for food, drinks and tobacco, and fell by 0.3% for automotive fuel.

"In the EU28, the retail trade volume increased by 2.5% for non-food products, by 0.1% for food, drinks and tobacco, while automotive fuel decreased by 0.9%," it said.

Eurostat also noted that the highest annual hike in the retail trade volume was seen in Luxembourg -- up 7.4% -- and the largest decline was recorded in Slovakia with a 2.6% fall.