Brussels, 07/03/2005 (Agence Europe) -In January 2005, compared to January 2004, the volume of retail trade1 fell by 0.6% in the euro-zone but increased by 0.9% in the EU25. Compared to December 20043, the retail sales index increased by 0.3% in the eurozone and by 0.1% in the EU25. The annual rhythm in retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.4% in the eurozone and grew by 0.6% in the EU25. The non food sector decreased by 0.1% in the euro-zone and grew by 1.6% in the EU25.Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade increased in Slovakia (+8.0%), Lithuania (+7.7%), Denmark (+7.5%), Sweden (+6.9%), the United Kingdom (+3.8%), Poland and Spain (both +2.1%), while decreases were observed in Belgium (-4.5%), Luxembourg (-1.7%), France (-0.7%) and Germany (-0.4%). In January 2005, compared with December 2004, “food, drinks and tobacco” grew by 0.1% in the euro-zone and by 0.2% in the EU25. The non food sector rose by 0.6% and by 0.5% respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade increased in Sweden (+2.4%), Germany (+2.1%), Slovakia (+1.9%), France, Lithuania and the United Kingdom (+0. 3% each ) and Spain (+0.1%). The highest decrease was in Belgium (-3.3%).