The volume of retail trade has inched up in continental Europe in January 2022, based on the latest data coming out of Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union.

Retail trade increased by 0.2 per cent in the Euro Area and by 0.6 per cent in the European Union (EU) during January 2022, compared with the previous month. In December 2021, the retail trade volume increased by 2.7 per cent in the Euro Area and by 2.6 per cent in the EU.

In comparison to January 2021, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index rose by 7.8 per cent in the euro area and by 8.3 per cent in the EU, in January 2022.

Monthly comparison by retail sector, member state

In comparison to December 2021, the volume of retail trade increased in the Euro Area by 0.2 per cent for non-food products and fell by 1.3 per cent for automotive fuels, and remained stable for food, drinks, and tobacco.

“In the EU, the volume of retail trade increased by 1.0 per cent for non-food products and by 0.2 per cent for food, drinks and tobacco, while it fell by 1.1 per cent for automotive fuels,” Eurostat reported.

Furthermore, among the member states, Eurostat noted, the largest monthly decreases in total retail trade were observed in Slovenia (-4.6 per cent), Portugal (-2.8 per cent) and Lithuania (-2.5 per cent). The highest increases were observed in Poland (+5.9 per cent), Luxembourg (+4.2 per cent), and Denmark (+3.7 per cent).

Annual comparison by retail sector, member state

According to Eurostat, in the Euro Area in January 2022, compared with January 2021, the volume of retail trade increased by 12.7 per cent for automotive fuels, by 14.8 per cent for non-food products. However, it fell by 1.7 per cent for food, drinks, and tobacco.

Additionally, in the EU, the volume of retail trade climbed by 11.1 per cent for automotive fuels, by 15.3 per cent for non-food, and decreased by 1.3 per cent for food, drinks, and tobacco. Among the member states for which data are available, the largest annual decline in total retail trade was recorded in Finland (-2.4 per cent).

The highest increases were observed in Slovenia (+32.3 per cent), Poland (+19.5 per cent), and Lithuania (+18.2 per cent).