In February 2005, compared with February 2004, the volume of retail trade grew by 1.0% in the euro-zone and by 1.9% in the EU25, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. Compared with January 2003, the retail sales index rose by 0.3% in the euro-zone and by 0.4% in the EU25.

In February 2005, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” gained 1.9% in the euro-zone and 2.4% in the EU25. The non food sector increased by 0.1% and 1.2% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data is available, total retail trade rose in Slovakia (+12.5%), Lithuania (+9.0%), Denmark (+8.2%), Sweden (+4.3%), the United Kingdom (+3.6%), Portugal (+3.1%), Spain (+2.4%), France (+2.1%), Germany (+1.1%) and Poland (+0.1%), while falls were recorded in Luxembourg (-3.7%) and Belgium (-0.6%).

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade increased in Slovakia (+2.9%), Belgium (+1.1%), Spain (+0.7%), France (+0.6%), Lithuania and the United Kingdom (both +0.4%), Germany and Luxembourg (both +0.2%), while it remained unchanged in Denmark. Decreases were in Poland (-0.5%), Sweden (-0.2%) and Portugal (-0.1%).

However, according to preliminary results for March 2005, sales showed a decrease compared with the same period in 2004.

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