November 2016 compared with October 2016-Volume of retail trade down by 0.4% in euro area-Down by 0.1% in EU28 | WPN World People News

In November 2016 compared with October 2016, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 0.4% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.1% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In October the retail trade volume increased by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU28.

In November 2016 compared with November 2015 the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.3% in the euro area and by 3.4% in the EU28.

Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State

The 0.4% decrease in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in November 2016, compared with October 2016, is due to falls of 0.9% for non-food products and of 0.4% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”, while automotive fuel rose by 1.0%. In the EU28, the 0.1% decrease in the volume of retail trade is due to falls of 0.3% for both non-food products and “Food, drinks and tobacco”, while automotive fuel rose by 0.5%.

Among Member States for which data are available, decreases in the total retail trade volume were observed in Germany (-1.8%), Austria and Portugal (both -1.3%) as well as Denmark (-0.3%), while the highest increases were registered in Luxembourg (+6.2%), Estonia (+1.7%), Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia (all +1.4%).

Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State

The 2.3% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in November 2016, compared with November 2015, is due to rises of 2.9% for non-food products, of 1.9% for automotive fuel and of 1.8% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”. In the EU28, the 3.4% increase in retail trade volume is due to rises of 4.7% for non-food products, of 2.3% for automotive fuel and of 2.1% for “Food, drinks and tobacco”.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total retail trade volume were observed in Luxembourg (+12.4%), Slovenia (+11.3) and Romania (+9.5%), while a decrease was observed in Belgium (-0.2%).

Geographical information

The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland. The European Union (EU28) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Methods and definitions

The index of the volume of retail trade measures the evolution of the turnover in retail trade, adjusted for price changes (deflated), i.e. the evolution of the total amount of goods sold, based on data adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects. Seasonally adjusted euro area and EU series are calculated by aggregating the seasonally adjusted national data. Eurostat carries out the seasonal adjustment of the data for those countries that do not adjust their data for seasonal effects. Missing observations from Member States for recent months are estimated for the calculation of the euro area and the EU aggregates.

Revisions and timetable

Data of previous months have been revised compared to those issued in the News Release 243/2016 of 5 December 2016. The monthly percentage changes for October 2016 have been revised from +1.1% to +1.4% in the euro area and from +1.2% to +1.3% in the EU28. The annual percentage changes have been revised from +2.4% to +3.0% in the euro area and from +3.5% to +3.8% in the EU28.

Source: European Commission