Brussels, 06/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - In December 2006, compared to December 2005, the volume of retail trade grew by 2.1% in the euro zone and by 3.3% in the EU25. Compared to November 2006, the retail sales index rose by 0.3% in the euro zone and by 0.7% in the EU25.
In terms of annual changes, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” grew by 0.1% in the euro zone and by 1.4% in the EU25. The non food sector increased by 3.3% and by 4.6% respectively. Total retail trade rose in Latvia (27.2%), Estonia (19.1%), Poland (12.3%), Sweden (11.0%), Lithuania (7.3%), Slovakia (6.5%), Finland (+.9%), Spain (4.5%), the United Kingdom (4.4%), Denmark (4.3%), Austria (3.7%), Luxembourg (2.8%), France (2.4%), Germany (1.8%) and Portugal (0.5%), while falls were recorded in Belgium (-3.9%) and Slovenia (-2.5%).
Compared with November 2006, “food, drinks and tobacco” grew by 0.3% in the euro zone and by 0.5% in the EU25. The non food sector gained 0.3% and 0.9% respectively. Sales rose in Latvia (6.4%), Poland (5.3%), Austria (2.6%), Sweden (2.5%), Germany (2.4%), Luxembourg (2.3%), Estonia (1.9%), Lithuania (1.5%), the United Kingdom (1.4%), Denmark (0.8%), Portugal (0.7%), Finland (0.5%), Spain and France (both 0.3%), while falls were recorded in Slovenia (-1.8%), Slovakia (-1.4%) and Belgium (-0.3%). (ab)