Eurozone Retail Sales Experience a Slight Uptick in February

According to the latest report from Eurostat, the euro area witnessed a 0.3% increase in retail trade volume in February compared to January, with the European Union not far behind at a 0.2% rise. Year-over-year, these figures grow more impressive, with the Eurozone and EU seeing increases of 2.3% and 2%, respectively.

Detailed Breakdown of Retail Sales Growth

In the euro area, the volume of retail trade saw a 0.3% monthly increase for food, drinks, tobacco, and non-food products (excluding automotive fuel), while automotive fuel in specialized stores experienced a 0.2% rise. The EU mirrored this growth pattern, with a 0.2% increase in the same categories, except for automotive fuel in specialized stores, which surged by 1.4%.

Regional Highlights

Cyprus stood out with the largest monthly increase in retail sales at 4.7%, signaling robust consumer activity. On the other end of the spectrum, Bulgaria faced a 1.7% decline, marking the most significant monthly decrease in the region.