In January 2010, compared with December 2009, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.3% in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27. In December 2009 retail trade rose by 0.5% and 0.2% respectively.

In January 2010, compared with January 2009, the retail sales index declined by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In January 2010, compared with December 2009, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. The non food sector dropped by 0.6% and 0.4% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade increased in nine, decreased in five and remained stable in Bulgaria, Germany and France. The highest increases were observed in Lithuania (+7.1%), Portugal (+5.2%) and Estonia (+4.3%), and the largest decreases in Denmark (-2.8%), Poland (-1.0%) and Slovakia (-0.6%). Malta stood at +2.8%.

Annual changes

In January 2010, compared with January 2009, “Food, drinks and tobacco” rose by 0.2% in the euro area, but fell by 0.6% in the EU27. The non food sector dropped by 1.5% in both zones.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in thirteen and rose in four. The largest decreases were observed in Latvia (-16.0%), Lithuania (-13.6%) and Romania (-10.3%), and the highest increases in Sweden (+3.4%), Malta (+2.6%) and Austria (+2.4%).

These first estimates come from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.