Brussels, 03/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - According to Eurostat, the volume of seasonally adjusted retail sales in the European Union increased by 0.5% in the second quarter of 2003 compared to the previous quarter, which is a growth rate equal to that registered in the first quarter. In the Euro zone, the corresponding rate of variation was 0.1%, compared to the 0.7% rise in the first quarter. The annual variation and the adjusted data dependent on working days see retail sales in the EU increasing by 2.0% in the second quarter of 2003, an increase in growth for the second consecutive quarter. The Euro zone has experienced a similar development with the variation in sales volume moving from -0.2% in the last quarter of 2002 to +1.1% in the second quarter of 2003.