Romania among the states with the most significant increase in retail trade in EU in February

Aurel Dragan 03/04/2019 | 15:53

Slovenia, Croatia and Romania recorded the most significant advance in retail trade in the European Union in February, compared with the same period in 2018, according to Eurostat.

In the euro area, retail trade grew by 2.8 percent year on year, while in the European Union there was an advance of 3.3 percent. Retail trade in the EU 28 was influenced by the fact that non-food sales increased by 5.1 percent, fuel prices climbed 3 percent, and food, beverages and cigarettes increased by 1 percent.

In February, most states reported annual increases, while in Bulgaria retail stagnated in February. The most significant year-on-year increase was recorded in Slovenia (11.8 percent), Croatia (11.4 percent) and Romania (9.1 percent).

Retail trade grew 0.4 percent in the euro area and in the European Union in February, after 0.9 percent in the euro area and 1 percent in the EU in January. Retail sales in the EU 28 were influenced by the fact that non-food sales increased by 1 percent, while food, beverages and cigarette sales decreased by 0.1 percent and those of fuels by 0.2 percent.

The largest monthly increases were recorded in Croatia (4.4 percent), Belgium and Latvia (both 1.6 percent), with the most significant decline being reported in Slovakia (minus 1.5 percent), Portugal (minus 1 percent), Bulgaria (minus 0.6 percent), Malta (minus 0.3 percent) and Romania (minus 0.2 percent).