These first estimates come from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.


In March 2008, compared with February 2008, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.4% in the euro area EA15 and by 0.7% in the EU27. In February3 retail trade fell by 0.2% and rose by 0.6% respectively. In March 2008, compared with March 2007, the retail sales index fell by 1.6% in the euro area, but rose by 0.4% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In March 2008, compared with February 2008, “food, drinks and tobacco” decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27. The non food sector fell by 0.6% and 0.8% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose only in Sweden (+0.4%) and Bulgaria (+0.2%), remained unchanged in Romania and fell in sixteen. The largest decreases were observed in Slovenia (-8.1%), Portugal (-4.1%), Luxembourg (-3.9%) and Estonia (-3.8%).

Annual changes

In March 2008, compared to March 2007, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 2.7% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 0.9% and grew by 1.4% respectively. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade rose in nine and fell in ten. The highest increases were observed in Romania (+16.2%), Slovakia (+10.4%), Lithuania (+9.0%) and Bulgaria (+8.7%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-5.3%), Estonia (-4.9%), Denmark (-4.6%) and Luxembourg (-4.2%).


Available at:

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008_MONTH_05/4-07052008-EN-AP.PDF