In February 2020. the month before coronavirus containment measures began to be widely introduced by Member States, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.9% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU, compared with January 2020, according to estimates from Eurostat.
In January 2020, the retail trade volume increased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU. In February 2020 compared with February 2019, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 3.0% in the euro area and by 3.2% in the EU.
Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in February 2020, compared with January 2020, the volume of retail trade increased by 2.4% for food, drinks and tobacco and 0.2% for non-food products, while automotive fuels fell by 0.1%.
In the EU, the volume of retail trade increased by 2.1% for food, drinks and tobacco, by 0.2% for non-food products and by 0.1% for automotive fuels.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Estonia (+4.4%), Latvia (+3.5%) and Portugal (+3.0%). Decreases were observed in Ireland (-2.7%), Slovenia (-1.8%), Croatia and Poland (both -0.2%).
Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in February 2020, compared with February 2019, the volume of retail trade increased by 3.2% for food, drinks and tobacco, by 2.9% for non-food products and by 0.3% for automotive fuel. In the EU, the retail trade volume increased by 3.6% for non-food products, by 3.1% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.6% for automotive fuel.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Romania (+11.9%), Hungary (+11.4%) and Portugal (+8.7%). A decrease was observed in Slovenia (-5.2%).
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. ■