STAT/03/125
5 November 2003
August 2003 compared to August 2002
Volume of retail trade down by 0.9% in euro-zone
EU15 up by 0.3%
In August 2003, compared to August 2002, the volume of retail trade1 decreased by 0.9% in the euro-zone2 but increased by 0.3 % in the EU15, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, estimates today. Compared to July 20033, the sales index contracted by 0.1% in theeuro-zone, but remained unchanged in the EU15.
Annual variations
In August 2003, compared to August 2002, retail trade of “food, drinks and tobacco” increased by 1.4% in the euro-zone and 2.0% in the EU15. The sale of food in specialised stores fell by 3.3% in the euro-zone and by 4.3% in the EU15, while sales in non specialised stores gained 1.5% and 2.5% respectively. The non food sector contracted by 3.0% in the euro-zone and by 1.2% in the EU15. Among the non food sectors, "textiles, clothing and footwear" fell by 7.9% in the euro-zoneand by 4.0% in the EU15, while retail sales of "household goods" decreased by 1.1% in the euro-zone, but rose by 1.2% in the EU15.
Volume of retail trade
% change compared with the same monthof the previous year1, 4
' / ' / Mar-03 / Apr-03 / May-03 / Jun-03 / Jul-03 / Aug-03Euro-zone / Total retail trade / -1.8 / 2.4 / 0.1 / 0.3 / -0.2 / -0.9
' / Food, drinks, tobacco, of which: / -1.3 / 4.1 / 1.3 / 1.0 / 1.0 / 1.4
' / Sale in non specialised stores / -1.7 / 4.4 / 1.0 / 0.9 / 1.1 / 1.5
' / Sale in specialised stores / -4.7 / 2.6 / -0.8 / -2.1 / -2.3 / -3.3
' / Non food products, of which: / -1.9 / 1.3 / -0.7 / -0.3 / -1.3 / -3.0
' / Textiles, clothing, footwear / -4.2 / -0.9 / -2.6 / -1.4 / -2.0 / -7.9
' / Household goods / 0.3 / 1.3 / -0.5 / 0.0 / -1.0 / -1.1
' / Books, newspapers and other sales
in specialised stores / -4.2 / 0.7 / -0.6 / -1.1 / -1.2 / -4.6
' / Pharmaceutical and medical goods / 1.8 / 2.4 / 1.0 / 1.6 / 0.5 / 1.5
' / Other sale in non specialised stores / -8.1 / 0.1 / -2.9 / -4.4 / -5.0 / -0.8
' / Mail orders / 3.1 / 3.7 / -1.4 / 2.4 / -1.0 / -6.8
EU15 / Total retail trade / -0.9 / 2.8 / 0.5 / 1.6 / 0.7 / 0.3
' / Food, drinks, tobacco, of which: / -0.5 / 4.5 / 1.4 / 1.9 / 1.5 / 2.0
' / Sale in non specialised stores / -0.2 / 5.0 / 1.5 / 2.2 / 1.9 / 2.5
' / Sale in specialised stores / -5.5 / 1.9 / -2.2 / -2.7 / -3.0 / -4.3
' / Non food products, of which: / -1.0 / 1.7 / 0.0 / 1.4 / 0.1 / -1.2
' / Textiles, clothing, footwear / -1.8 / 0.2 / -0.1 / 1.9 / 0.6 / -4.0
' / Household goods / 0.3 / 3.0 / 1.0 / 1.7 / 0.6 / 1.2
' / Books, newspapers and other sales
in specialised stores / -2.6 / 0.9 / -0.2 / 1.6 / 0.9 / -1.3
' / Pharmaceutical and medical goods / 2.1 / 2.0 / 1.1 / 2.5 / 0.8 / 2.7
' / Other sale in non specialised stores / -5.0 / 1.4 / -1.4 / -0.1 / -2.4 / 1.0
' / Mail orders / 3.7 / 0.8 / -3.1 / 0.8 / -2.9 / -9.7
Compared to August 2002, and among the Member States for which data are available, the highest growth rates were observed in Sweden (+6.5%), Finland (+5.5%) and the UnitedKingdom (+3.1%). The strongest decreases were observed in Italy (-3.4%), Germany (-3.0%) and Portugal (-2.9%).
Volume of retail trade in the euro-zone, the EU15 and the Member States
% change compared with the same month of the previous year1, 4
' / Mar-03 / Apr-03 / May-03 / Jun-03 / Jul-03 / Aug-03Euro-zone / -1.8 / 2.4 / 0.1 / 0.3 / -0.2 / -0.9
EU15 / -0.9 / 2.8 / 0.5 / 1.6 / 0.7 / 0.3
Belgium / -1.3 / -0.3 / 1.3 / -1.5 / -0.3 / -2.3
Denmark / 0.9 / 3.9 / 0.0 / 1.9 / 4.0 / 2.9
Germany / -3.5 / 1.4 / -1.4 / 0.6 / -2.0 / -3.0
Greece / 7.3 / 4.2 / 1.8 / 1.5 / : / :
Spain / -0.4 / 4.1 / 3.8 / 4.5 / 3.2 / 1.3
France / -0.1 / 2.7 / -0.3 / 1.1 / -0.2 / 1.6
Ireland / -0.6 / 5.5 / -0.3 / 2.6 / 0.3 / -1.2
Italy / -1.8 / 3.2 / 1.2 / -2.3 / -0.4 / -3.4
Luxembourg / -0.5 / 7.7 / 1.8 / 0.5 / : / :
Netherlands / -5.0 / -1.4 / -2.8 / -6.8 / -3.5 / :
Austria / -3.1 / 7.3 / -1.0 / 2.7 / -0.2 / -2.3
Portugal / -8.8 / -0.8 / -3.0 / -3.8 / 0.9 / -2.9
Finland / 3.3 / 2.2 / 3.6 / 2.9 / 5.8 / 5.5
Sweden / 2.2 / 4.7 / 2.6 / 7.1 / 5.0 / 6.5
United Kingdom5 / 1.6 / 4.0 / 1.9 / 5.2 / 3.0 / 3.1
: Data not available
Monthly variations
Compared to July 2003, “food, drinks and tobacco” grew by 0.8% in the euro-zoneand 0.7% in the EU15.The “non food” aggregate contracted by 0.7% and 0.3% respectively. Among the non food sectors, "textiles, clothing and footwear” fell by 3.9% in the euro-zone and by 2.1% in the EU15, while the index for "household goods" decreased by 0.6% in the euro-zone, but gained 0.1% in the EU15.
Volume of retail trade
% change compared with the previous month3, 4
' / ' / Mar-03 / Apr-03 / May-03 / Jun-03 / Jul-03 / Aug-03Euro-zone / Total retail trade / -1.4 / 1.8 / -1.0 / -0.2 / 0.3 / -0.1
' / Food, drinks, tobacco, of which: / -1.2 / 1.2 / -0.5 / -0.5 / 0.5 / 0.8
' / Sale in non specialised stores / -1.3 / 1.4 / -0.7 / -0.4 / 0.6 / 0.8
' / Sale in specialised stores / -0.5 / 0.6 / -0.6 / -0.4 / -0.7 / -0.1
' / Non food products, of which: / -0.7 / 0.7 / -0.5 / -0.2 / -0.2 / -0.7
' / Textiles, clothing, footwear / 0.4 / 0.9 / -1.7 / 1.1 / 0.2 / -3.9
' / Household goods / -0.1 / 0.6 / -0.7 / -0.4 / 0.5 / -0.6
' / Books, newspapers and other sales
in specialised stores / -2.3 / 1.8 / -0.6 / -0.4 / 0.1 / -2.3
' / Pharmaceutical and medical goods / -0.5 / 0.7 / -0.6 / 0.1 / 0.1 / 0.8
' / Other sale in non specialised stores / -1.1 / 0.5 / 0.8 / -1.9 / -0.4 / 3.1
' / Mail orders / 1.8 / 1.0 / -1.8 / 1.1 / -1.2 / -2.2
EU15 / Total retail trade / -0.8 / 1.5 / -0.8 / 0.4 / 0.0 / 0.0
' / Food, drinks, tobacco, of which: / -1.3 / 2.1 / -1.1 / 0.1 / 0.3 / 0.7
' / Sale in non specialised stores / -0.6 / 1.0 / -0.5 / 0.2 / 0.3 / 0.6
' / Sale in specialised stores / -0.4 / 0.4 / -1.0 / 0.2 / -0.9 / -0.6
' / Non food products, of which: / -0.3 / 0.4 / -0.2 / 0.3 / -0.2 / -0.3
' / Textiles, clothing, footwear / 0.1 / 0.6 / -0.9 / 1.7 / -0.2 / -2.1
' / Household goods / -0.1 / 1.1 / -0.5 / 0.1 / 0.1 / 0.1
' / Books, newspapers and other sales
in specialised stores / -1.3 / 1.2 / -0.4 / 0.6 / -0.1 / -1.0
' / Pharmaceutical and medical goods / -0.4 / 0.5 / -0.4 / 0.3 / -0.3 / 1.4
' / Other sale in non specialised stores / -1.3 / 0.6 / 1.1 / -0.8 / -0.5 / 2.7
' / Mail orders / 0.9 / 0.8 / -2.1 / 0.9 / -1.2 / -1.8
Compared to July 2003, and among the Member States for which data are available, growth was only observed in Finland (+0.9%), France and Ireland (both +0.6%), while retail trade remained stable in Sweden. The strongest decreases were registered in Portugal (-2.3%), Italy (-0.9%) and Belgium, Spain and Austria (each -0.8%).
Volume of retail trade in the euro-zone, the EU15 and the Member States
% change compared with the previous month3, 4
' / Mar-03 / Apr-03 / May-03 / Jun-03 / Jul-03 / Aug-03Euro-zone / -1.4 / 1.8 / -1.0 / -0.2 / 0.3 / -0.1
EU15 / -0.8 / 1.5 / -0.8 / 0.4 / 0.0 / 0.0
Belgium / -0.2 / 0.3 / 0.5 / -1.2 / 1.0 / -0.8
Denmark / -0.7 / -0.6 / -1.5 / 2.3 / 0.8 / -0.3
Germany / -2.6 / 2.6 / -1.6 / 0.9 / -1.3 / -0.5
Greece / 1.2 / -1.3 / 0.3 / 0.0 / : / :
Spain / -1.1 / 2.0 / 0.1 / 0.1 / 0.1 / -0.8
France / -1.6 / 2.2 / -2.2 / 0.8 / 0.1 / 0.6
Ireland / 0.0 / 2.8 / -5.2 / 4.9 / -3.3 / 0.6
Italy / -0.5 / 0.4 / -0.3 / -0.9 / 0.4 / -0.9
Luxembourg / -1.0 / 2.4 / -1.1 / 3.8 / : / :
Netherlands / -2.1 / -0.1 / -1.5 / 0.3 / -0.8 / :
Austria / -3.0 / 4.8 / -2.6 / -0.6 / -1.4 / -0.8
Portugal / -4.3 / 3.1 / 0.4 / -3.2 / 7.0 / -2.3
Finland / -1.3 / 0.4 / 0.7 / 0.6 / 1.1 / 0.9
Sweden / -0.2 / 2.0 / -0.9 / 3.0 / -0.7 / 0.0
United Kingdom5 / 0.2 / 1.1 / -0.5 / 2.0 / -0.5 / -0.2
: Data not available
- Based on data adjusted for working days. For the methodology, see News Release 47/2000 of 12 April 2000. For definitions of published sectors see News Release 103/2001 of 3 October 2001.
Retail sale not in stores 52.6 (except for mail orders) and retail sale of second-hand goods 52.5 are not published as separate sectors as they are not required as such by the STS-Regulation. They are however included in the ”non food products” aggregate.
- Euro-zone: Belgium, Germany, Greece (since January 2001), Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland.
- Based on data adjusted for working days and seasonal effects.
- Data of previous months were revised compared to those issued in the News Release 115/2003 of 6 October 2003. The figures published in this News Release were the following for July 2003: 0.0% in the euro-zone and +1.1% in the EU15 for the annual variations, +0.1% in the euro-zone and -0.1% in the EU15 for the monthly variations.
- The UK data, for 1998 and 1999, uses the old methodology and has been linked to the data from 2000 onwards which uses the new methodology. There is more detailed information about the changes in the following article:
- Eurostat has changed to base year 2000. See for further details:
Eurostat Press Office
Philippe BAUTIER
BECH Building
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Tel: +352-4301-33 444
Fax: +352-4301-35 349
/ For further information on data:
Marcel LAVEYRY
Tel: +352-4301-32 146
Fax: +352-4301-34 359
Frederic DONZEL
Tel: +352-4301-32 025
Fax: +352-4301-34 359
Eurostat news releases on the Internet:
Deflated Turnover for Total Retail Trade
Seasonally adjusted
(Base year 2000 )
' / 08/02 / 09/02 / 10/02 / 11/02 / 12/02 / 01/03 / 02/03 / 03/03 / 04/03 / 05/03 / 06/03 / 07/03 / 08/03Euro-zone / 102.7 / 101.9 / 102.5 / 101.7 / 100.8 / 103.4 / 102.4 / 101.0 / 102.9 / 101.8 / 101.6 / 101.9 / 101.8
EU15 / 104.8 / 104.4 / 105.1 / 104.7 / 104.0 / 105.6 / 105.1 / 104.2 / 105.7 / 104.9 / 105.3 / 105.3 / 105.3
BE / 100.6 / 98.6 / 99.1 / 99.6 / 98.0 / 100.9 / 99.0 / 98.8 / 99.1 / 99.6 / 98.4 / 99.4 / 98.6
DK / 103.9 / 105.1 / 105.5 / 104.9 / 105.2 / 105.9 / 106.9 / 106.1 / 105.5 / 103.9 / 106.3 / 107.2 / 106.9
DE / 99.8 / 99.9 / 100.1 / 97.6 / 97.5 / 100.5 / 99.6 / 97.0 / 99.5 / 97.9 / 98.8 / 97.5 / 97.0
EL / 109.6 / 111.6 / 110.5 / 110.9 / 112.0 / 112.7 / 112.0 / 113.4 / 111.9 / 112.2 / 112.2 / : / :
ES / 106.3 / 106.1 / 105.9 / 106.0 / 103.7 / 106.5 / 107.3 / 106.2 / 108.3 / 108.5 / 108.6 / 108.7 / 107.8
FR / 104.8 / 104.1 / 105.3 / 104.2 / 103.4 / 107.6 / 105.6 / 103.9 / 106.1 / 103.9 / 104.7 / 104.8 / 105.5
IE / 111.1 / 112.6 / 110.0 / 110.0 / 110.5 / 111.7 / 110.8 / 110.8 / 114.0 / 108.1 / 113.3 / 109.6 / 110.4
IT / 99.4 / 98.8 / 99.4 / 99.0 / 99.1 / 98.9 / 99.0 / 98.6 / 99.0 / 98.7 / 97.8 / 98.2 / 97.3
LU / 110.9 / 107.8 / 113.3 / 110.4 / 113.3 / 110.2 / 110.4 / 109.3 / 111.9 / 110.7 / 114.9 / : / :
NL / 102.6 / 102.5 / 102.8 / 101.2 / 102.1 / 102.2 / 101.9 / 99.8 / 99.6 / 98.1 / 98.4 / 97.6 / :
AT / 99.4 / 97.7 / 99.9 / 98.4 / 96.5 / 102.8 / 100.4 / 97.4 / 102.1 / 99.4 / 98.8 / 97.4 / 96.6
PT / 105.4 / 104.4 / 103.3 / 102.3 / 100.5 / 101.4 / 101.6 / 97.2 / 100.2 / 100.6 / 97.4 / 104.2 / 101.8
FI / 107.9 / 108.9 / 109.4 / 108.9 / 107.7 / 108.9 / 111.2 / 109.7 / 110.1 / 110.9 / 111.6 / 112.8 / 113.8
SE / 106.1 / 109.6 / 110.9 / 108.4 / 108.9 / 109.4 / 109.5 / 109.3 / 111.5 / 110.5 / 113.8 / 113.0 / 113.0
UK5 / 112.4 / 113.0 / 114.2 / 114.5 / 113.1 / 113.3 / 113.4 / 113.6 / 114.8 / 114.2 / 116.5 / 115.9 / 115.6
: Data not available
Deflated Turnover for Total Retail Trade
Working days adjusted
(Base year 2000)
' / 08/00 / 08/01 / 08/02 / 09/02 / 10/02 / 11/02 / 12/02 / 01/03 / 02/03 / 03/03 / 04/03 / 05/03 / 06/03 / 07/03 / 08/03Euro-zone / 93.3 / 95.4 / 96.1 / 99.4 / 104.7 / 103.7 / 128.2 / 97.9 / 92.1 / 98.6 / 101.8 / 101.9 / 99.1 / 100.5 / 95.2
EU15 / 94.5 / 97.3 / 99.2 / 101.3 / 106.8 / 108.4 / 132.9 / 99.5 / 94.9 / 100.6 / 104.3 / 104.0 / 102.3 / 104.1 / 99.5
BE / 90.9 / 93.8 / 93.3 / 98.3 / 100.3 / 96.8 / 117.7 / 99.4 / 91.2 / 98.5 / 97.8 / 99.7 / 96.7 / 98.8 / 91.2
DK / 101.7 / 101.8 / 104.7 / 100.2 / 105.2 / 103.2 / 135.2 / 101.2 / 92.3 / 100.2 / 104.2 / 107.3 / 103.1 / 109.5 / 107.7
DE / 92.4 / 93.8 / 93.4 / 98.7 / 101.3 / 106.3 / 120.5 / 90.4 / 92.9 / 96.3 / 101.1 / 97.1 / 94.9 / 92.7 / 90.6
EL / 88.3 / 91.4 / 95.4 / 105.7 / 110.7 / 110.8 / 146.2 / 115.1 / 110.7 / 102.8 / 116.1 / 108.3 / 108.0 / : / :
ES / 93.0 / 99.5 / 100.2 / 103.1 / 108.1 / 102.7 / 125.5 / 112.4 / 93.2 / 101.4 / 102.7 / 107.8 / 107.7 / 116.5 / 101.5
FR / 99.2 / 100.9 / 102.9 / 100.8 / 105.9 / 99.7 / 131.0 / 107.4 / 94.2 / 103.2 / 105.1 / 103.8 / 101.9 / 102.2 / 104.6
IE / 99.4 / 105.0 / 109.5 / 108.4 / 107.6 / 113.4 / 154.3 / 102.4 / 101.8 / 102.0 / 108.3 / 104.1 / 110.4 / 108.9 / 108.1
IT / 82.1 / 82.3 / 81.5 / 94.4 / 105.8 / 104.8 / 139.8 / 86.9 / 87.3 / 93.6 / 98.9 / 101.7 / 95.7 / 96.4 / 78.7
LU / 99.1 / 105.4 / 111.1 / 106.7 / 113.9 / 110.8 / 113.0 / 111.4 / 110.4 / 107.2 / 113.2 / 110.3 / 113.6 / : / :
NL / 98.3 / 100.9 / 103.2 / 98.5 / 106.7 / 105.4 / 117.6 / 95.7 / 87.9 / 96.1 / 98.4 / 103.9 / 96.0 / 99.0 / :
AT / 94.7 / 95.0 / 94.7 / 97.8 / 102.9 / 103.5 / 124.6 / 92.9 / 86.6 / 97.9 / 99.8 / 98.0 / 94.1 / 96.6 / 92.5
PT / 101.3 / 103.4 / 105.2 / 103.2 / 104.6 / 104.7 / 135.9 / 90.3 / 86.6 / 94.8 / 93.7 / 96.6 / 92.2 / 106.3 / 102.1
FI / 103.3 / 106.8 / 111.1 / 104.2 / 109.2 / 107.3 / 139.5 / 95.6 / 93.6 / 102.2 / 105.7 / 113.5 / 116.1 / 119.4 / 117.2
SE / 103.4 / 107.1 / 109.3 / 107.4 / 109.1 / 107.0 / 139.9 / 99.2 / 96.3 / 107.6 / 107.5 / 113.1 / 113.1 / 110.9 / 116.4
UK5 / 96.8 / 102.0 / 108.1 / 107.0 / 113.5 / 125.6 / 147.9 / 105.0 / 104.8 / 106.9 / 112.3 / 109.9 / 111.9 / 115.4 / 111.4
: Data not available
Volume of retail trade in the Acceding Countries
Annual variations
% change compared with the same month of the previous year1
' / Mar-03 / Apr-03 / May-03 / Jun-03 / Jul-03 / Aug-03Czech Republic / -0.8 / 6.1 / 2.0 / 3.7 / 5.3 / 5.1
Estonia / 2.1 / -2.4 / -0.7 / 3.3 / 4.6 / 2.3
Cyprus / 0.3 / -4.1 / -3.9 / -6.7 / 0.1 / :
Latvia / 8.6 / 12.1 / 10.4 / 14.4 / 16.2 / 12.7
Lithuania / 1.1 / 12.7 / 9.3 / 9.0 / 14.2 / 13.8
Hungary / 9.6 / 9.4 / 5.1 / 6.3 / 9.8 / :
Malta / : / : / : / : / : / :
Poland / : / : / : / : / : / :
Slovenia / -1.1 / 7.6 / 3.1 / 0.7 / 3.2 / 3.0
Slovakia / -10.5 / -2.1 / -6.4 / -9.5 / -7.7 / -5.3
: Data not available
Monthly variations
% change compared with the previous month3
' / Mar-03 / Apr-03 / May-03 / Jun-03 / Jul-03 / Aug-03Czech Republic / -0.3 / 0.7 / 0.1 / 0.6 / 0.6 / -0.2
Estonia / 1.8 / -0.3 / 2.4 / 1.9 / 2.8 / -0.9
Cyprus / -1.1 / -1.7 / 0.0 / -1.7 / 2.6 / :
Latvia / -0.4 / 2.2 / 1.2 / 1.7 / 1.8 / -0.4
Lithuania / -1.6 / 4.6 / 0.2 / 0.2 / 4.4 / 1.5
Hungary / 1.5 / 0.6 / -0.7 / 1.1 / 1.5 / :
Malta / : / : / : / : / : / :
Poland / : / : / : / : / : / :
Slovenia / -2.0 / 2.9 / -1.3 / -3.5 / 6.1 / 0.7
Slovakia / -2.2 / 2.4 / -1.7 / -1.5 / -0.1 / 0.1
: Data not available