2010-07-06 10:56

Retail trade volume in eurozone gained 0.2 percent in May from the previous month, the EU statistical bureau Eurostat said on Monday.

In May, food, drinks and tobacco rose by 0.2 percent month-on-month in the 16 nations that use the euro. Non-food sector increased by 0.4 percent.

Year-on-year, eurozone retail sales went up by 0.3 percent in May. Food, drinks and tobacco gained 0.3 percent, while non-food sector rose by one percent.

In the 27-nation EU, the volume of retail trade in May increased by 0.4 percent from April and grew by 0.5 percent year-on-year.

Compared with the previous month, among the EU member states for which data were available, total retail trade increased in thirteen and declined in six. The highest increase occurred in Denmark, which was 3.8 percent, and the largest decrease in Malta, down by 3.8 percent.

Retail sales indicate household demand, considered as one of the top three economic drivers.