Brussels, 05/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - In July 2006, compared to July 2005, the volume of retail trade1 grew by 2.5% in the Euro area and by 3.3% in the EU25. Compared to June 20063, the retail sales index rose by 0.6% in the Euro area and by 0.3% in the EU25. Annual changes between July 2006, compared to July 2005, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” gained 2.4% in the Euro area and 3.2% in the EU25. The non food sector increased by 2.5% and 3.4% respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in Estonia (+19.4%), Latvia (+18.7%), Poland (+9.1%), Slovakia (+8.8%), Sweden (+7.9%), Lithuania (+5.8%), France (+5.5%), Finland (+5.1%), Portugal (+4.6%), Denmark and the United Kingdom (both +3.9%), Austria (+2.3%), Slovenia (+2.0%), Spain (+1.1%) and Germany (+0.8%), while a decrease was recorded in Belgium (-1.1%). In July 2006, compared with June 2006, “food, drinks and tobacco” gained 0.9% in the Euro area and 0.5% in the
EU25. The non food sector increased by 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, the highest rises in retail trade were in %). Figures remained unchanged in Finland, while falls were recorded in Poland (-1.7%), Germany (-1.5%), Austria (-1.0%), Slovakia (-0.5%), the United Kingdom (-0.2%) and Sweden (-0.1%).