In December 2018, when compared with November 2018, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 1.6% in the Euro Area (EA19) and by 1.4% in the EU28, according to estimates from the Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In November, the retail trade volume increased by 0.8% in the Euro Area and by 1.0% in the EU28. In December 2018 compared with December 2017 the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU28. The average retail trade for the year 2018, compared with 2017, rose by 1.4% in the Euro Area and by 2.0% in EU28.

Monthly comparison

In the Euro Area in December 2018, compared with November 2018, the volume of retail trade fell by 2.7% for non-food products and by 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco, while it increased by 0.5% for automotive fuel. In the EU28, the retail trade volume fell by 2.6% non-food products and by 0.4% for foods, drinks and tobacco, while it increased by 0.7% for automotive fuel. Among Member States for which data is available, the largest decreases in the total retail trade volume were observed in Germany (-4.3%), Sweden (-2.5%) and Estonia (-2.0%). Increases were registered in Austria (+0.7), Portugal (+0.6%) and Ireland (+0.5%).

Annual comparison

In the Euro Area in December 2018, compared with December 2017, the volume of retail trade increased by 2.5% for automotive fuels, by 0.7% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.5% for non-food products. In the EU28, the retail trade volume increased by 3.3% for automotive fuel, by 1.2% for non-food products, and by 0.6% for food, drinks and tobacco. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (+11.2%), Ireland (+7.5%) and Poland (+4.9%). The largest decreases were observed in Germany (-2.2%), Malta (-1.9%) and Sweden (-1.6%).

In the Euro Area, in December 2018, the volume of retail trade for the category Textiles, Clothing and Footwear fell by 2.5%. In the EU28, the drop of retail trade for this category was smaller, in the region of -0.9%. In the second semester of the year, the performance of this category was inconsistent, with ups and downs, month after month: regardless of the area considered (Euro Area or EU28) during the second semester retail trade of items in this category never presented a set of three consecutive months with movements in the same direction.