Retail trade volume in the euro area declined by 0.2 per cent in December 2024 compared with the previous month, while the EU experienced a 0.3 per cent decrease, according to first estimates from Eurostat.
In November 2024, the retail trade volume had remained unchanged in the euro area and had grown by 0.1 per cent in the EU. Despite the monthly decline, annual figures reflected a more positive trend. Compared with December 2023, retail trade volume increased by 1.9 per cent in the euro area and by 2.0 per cent in the EU.
Retail trade volume in the euro area fell by 0.2 per cent in December 2024, while the EU saw a 0.3 per cent decline.
Annually, retail trade rose by 1.9 per cent in the euro area and 2.0 per cent in the EU.
Slovakia led monthly growth, while Slovenia saw the largest drop.
Non-food retail trade grew by 3.1 per cent in the euro area and 3.4 per cent in the EU annually.
In the euro area, December saw a 0.3 per cent increase in retail trade volume for non-food products (excluding automotive fuel). The EU showed similar growth for non-food products, with a 0.3 per cent increase.
Among individual EU Member States, the largest monthly declines in total retail trade volume were recorded in Slovenia with a decrease of 2.2 per cent, Germany with a drop of 1.6 per cent, and Poland with a decline of 1.5 per cent. On the other hand, Slovakia saw a strong increase of 8.2 per cent, followed by Finland with a rise of 2.1 per cent and Spain with an increase of 1.4 per cent.
On an annual basis, the average retail trade volume for 2024 rose by 1.0 per cent in the euro area and by 1.3 per cent in the EU compared with 2023.
Compared with December 2023, the euro area experienced a 3.1 per cent rise in retail trade for non-food products (excluding automotive fuel). In the EU, retail trade volume rose by 3.4 per cent for non-food products, as per Eurostat.
Slovakia led annual growth among Member States with a 10.0 per cent increase in total retail trade volume, followed by Lithuania with 8.7 per cent and Luxembourg with 8.4 per cent. In contrast, Slovenia recorded the largest annual decline of 3.1 per cent, while Belgium and Poland saw decreases of 2.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
