Euro zone retail sales inch up in Oct, ending three-month decline
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BRUSSELS, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Euro zone retail sales rose very slightly in October, broadly in line with expectations, after three consecutive months of decline, suggesting that consumer spending will provide at most a modest boost to economic growth.
The European Union’s statistics office Eurostat said on Wednesday that retail sales in the 20 countries sharing the euro rose 0.1% month-on-month in October to a level 1.2% lower than a year earlier.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected a monthly rise of 0.2% and a 1.1% year-on-year decline.
The monthly rise, after declines in July, August and September, was due to a 2.2% increase in mail order and Internet sales, helping non-food sales rise by 0.8%.
Food, drink and tobacco sales were down 1.1%, while sales of automotive fuels were 0.8% lower.
Year-on-year, food and fuel sales were markedly lower. Non-food goods sales were 0.1% higher.
The euro zone economy shrank by 0.1% in the three months to September, with initial surveys and data indicating the bloc will contract again this quarter.
Volume of retail trade
% change compared with the previous month (calendar and seasonally adjusted)
May 23
Jun 23
Jul 23
Aug 23
Sep 23
Oct 23
Euro area
Total retail trade
0.4
0.1
-0.1
-0.7
-0.1
0.1
Food, drinks, tobacco
0.2
0.1
0.2
-0.5
1.0
-1.1
Non-food products (except automotive fuel), of which:
0.5
0.2
0.2
-0.8
-0.9
0.8
Mail orders and internet
-0.1
1.2
1.5
-2.1
-2.1
2.2
Automotive fuel in specialised stores
0.5
-0.4
-0.5
-2.2
0.4
-0.8
EU
Total retail trade
0.3
0.0
-0.1
-0.5
-0.1
0.3
Food, drinks, tobacco
0.4
0.0
0.0
-0.3
1.0
-0.8
Non-food products (except automotive fuel), of which:
0.4
0.1
0.2
-0.6
-0.9
1.0
Mail orders and internet
-0.1
1.1
1.6
-1.4
-1.7
2.1
Automotive fuel in specialised stores
0.3
-0.6
-0.5
-1.7
1.2
0.1
Volume of retail trade
% change compared with the same month of the previous year (calendar adjusted)
May 23
Jun 23
Jul 23
Aug 23
Sep 23
Oct 23
Euro area
Total retail trade
-2.1
-0.8
-0.8
-1.8
-2.9
-1.2
Food, drinks, tobacco
-2.8
-2.6
-2.1
-2.4
-0.9
-1.5
Non-food products (except automotive fuel), of which:
-1.5
0.7
1.3
0.0
-3.4
0.1
Mail orders and internet
-2.9
-1.7
0.5
-1.1
-4.6
0.0
Automotive fuel in specialised stores
-0.9
-0.9
-1.6
-7.3
-6.7
-6.4
EU
Total retail trade
-2.4
-1.0
-1.0
-1.8
-2.6
-0.9
Food, drinks, tobacco
-2.8
-2.8
-2.3
-2.4
-0.7
-1.2
Non-food products (except automotive fuel), of which:
