Retail Trade Growth in February

In a recent report by Eurostat, the euro area experienced a modest growth in retail trade, with a 0.3% increase in February compared to January. The European Union, on the other hand, saw a slightly lower growth rate of 0.2% for the same period.

Annual Growth Figures

Year-over-year, the Eurozone's retail sales saw a more significant rise of 2.3%, with the EU not far behind at 2%.

Sector-wise Performance

Within the euro area, the volume of retail trade for food, drinks, and tobacco, as well as non-food products (excluding automotive fuel), both grew by 0.3%. Meanwhile, automotive fuel in specialized stores saw a 0.2% increase. The EU mirrored this trend with a 0.2% growth in the same categories, except for automotive fuel in specialized stores, which surged by 1.4%.

Regional Highlights

Cyprus led with the highest monthly increase in retail sales at 4.7%, contrasting sharply with Bulgaria, which experienced the largest decrease of 1.7%.