The volume of retail trade grew by 3 percent in Romania this January, compared to the previous month, informs Eurostat. Other countries that reported increases were Latvia (+6.4 percent), Slovenia (+5.5 percent) while the highest decreases were reported in Portugal (-2.7 percent), Denmark (-2.1 percent) and Germany (-1.6 percent).
Compared to January 2011, total retail trade rose in eleven and fell in seven of the EU member states. The highest increases were observed in Lithuania (+17.0 percent), Latvia (+16.6 percent) and Romania (+10.2 percent), and the largest decreases in Portugal (-8.7 percent), Malta (-5.7 percent) and Bulgaria (-2.6 percent).
Overall, in January 2012 compared with December 2011, the volume of retail trade grew by 0.3 percent in the euro area and by 0.4 percent in the EU27. In December retail trade decreased by 0.5 percent and 0.2 percent respectively.
In January 2012, compared with January 2011, the retail sales index remained stable in the euro area and rose by 0.7 percent in the EU27.
In January 2012, compared with December 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” rose by 0.6 percent in the euro area and by 0.4 percent in the EU27. The non food sector increased by 0.5 percent and 0.9 percent respectively.
In January 2012, compared with January 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.9 percent in the euro area and by 0.5 percent in the EU27. The non food sector increased by 1.1 percent and 2.1 percent respectively.
Simona Bazavan