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In March 2019, compared with February 2019, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade remained unchanged in the euro area (EA19), and increased by 0.3% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In February 2019, the retail trade volume increased by 0.5% in both the euro area and EU28. In March 2019, compared with March 2018, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.9% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU28.
In the euro area in March 2019, compared with February 2019, the volume of retail trade increased by 0.6% for food, drinks and tobacco, while automotive fuel decreased by 0.6% and non-food products by 0.4%. In the EU28, the retail trade volume increased by 0.5% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.2% for non-food products, while automotive fuel remained stable.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Lithuania (+1.7%), Portugal (+1.2%) and the United Kingdom (+1.1%). The highest decreases were observed in Slovenia (-3.1%), Croatia (-1.9%) and Austria (-0.8%).
In the euro area in March 2019, compared with March 2018, the volume of retail trade increased by 3.0% for non-food products, by 1.4% for automotive fuels and by 0.7% for food, drinks and tobacco. In the EU28, the retail trade volume increased by 4.4% for non-food products, by 4.1% for automotive fuel and by 0.4% for food, drinks and tobacco.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Ireland (+10.8%), Romania (+9.3%), Croatia and Luxembourg (both +8.6%). Decreases were observed for Slovakia (-2.0%), Austria (-1.0%) and Belgium (-0.9%).
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