The volume of retail trade fell by 0.6 per cent in the euro zone in September compared to September 2002 but increased by 0.5 per cent in the EU15, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, estimates today.
Compared to August 20033, the sales index remained unchanged in the euro zone but increased by 0.2 per cent in the EU15.
In September 2003, compared to September 2002, retail trade of "food, drinks and tobacco" increased by 0.5 per cent in the euro zone and 1.1 per cent in the EU15.
The sale of food in specialised stores fell by 2.4 per cent in the euro zone and by 3 per cent in the EU15, while sales in non specialised stores gained 0.3 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively.
The non food sector contracted by 1 per cent in the euro-zone but gained 0.3 per cent in the EU15.
Among the non food sectors, "textiles, clothing and footwear" fell by 4.7 per cent in the euro zone and by 0.7 per cent in the EU15, while retail sales of "household goods" rose by 0.1 per cent in the euro zone and 1.4 per cent in the EU15.
Compared to September 2002, and among the Member States for which data are available, the highest growth rates were observed in the United Kingdom (+4.1 per cent), Finland (+3.7 per cent) and Sweden (+3.6 per cent).
The strongest falls were in The Netherlands (-6.6%), Denmark (-5.7 per cent) and Belgium (-2.7 per cent).