08/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - According to initial estimates published on Tuesday in Eurostat, in September 2006, compared to September 2005, the volume of retail trade grew by 1.4% in the Euro area and by 2.4% in the EU25. In the same period, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” gained 1.1% in the Euro area and 1.9% in the EU25. The non food sector increased by 1.8% and 3.0% respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in Latvia (+19.8%), Slovakia (+10.8%), Poland (+9.6%), Sweden (+8.7%), Finland (+7.1%), Lithuania (+5.8%), Spain (+3.8%), the United Kingdom (+3.1%), Denmark (+2.5%), Portugal (+2.0%), Slovenia (+1.8%), France and Luxembourg (both +1.7%) and Austria (+0.8%), while falls were recorded in Belgium (-1.6%) and Germany (-0.7%). In monthly terms (September2006/August2006), sales fell by 0.6% in the Euro zone and by 0.2% in the EU25. (ol)