Euro zone retail sales rose less than forecast in June

According to the report from Eurostat, in June 2020, a month marked by some relaxation of COVID-19 containment measures in many Member States, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 5.7% in the euro area and by 5.2% in the EU, compared with May 2020. Economists had expected a 5.9% increase in the euro area. In May 2020, the retail trade volume increased by 20.3% in the euro area and by 18.3% in the EU. This means that retail trade volumes in both zones have returned to the levels recorded in February 2020, before the start of containment measures.

In June 2020 compared with June 2019, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.3% in both the euro area and EU.

In the euro area in June 2020, compared with May 2020, the volume of retail trade increased by 20.4% for automotive fuels and by 12.1% for non-food products while food, drinks and tobacco decreased by 2.7%. In the EU, the volume of retail trade increased by 16.9% for automotive fuels and by 10.6% for non-food products while food, drinks and tobacco decreased by 2.2%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Ireland (+21.9%), Spain (+16.5%) and Italy (+13.8%). Decreases were observed in Austria (-2.5%) and Germany (-1.6%).