As expected, retail sales in the Eurozone fell in August. Compared to the previous month, revenues fell by 0.3 percent, as the statistics office Eurostat announced on Thursday in Luxembourg. Analysts had expected this decline on average.
In July, sales fell a revised 0.4 percent. In a first estimate, an increase of 0.3 percent was determined
Compared to the same month last year, sales in August fell by 2.0 percent. A decline of 1.7 percent had been expected here. Developments across the European Union (EU) were similar, although the declines were somewhat less pronounced.
Sales of food, beverages and tobacco goods fell significantly in the euro zone in a month-on-month comparison. They fell the most in mail order and online retail. By contrast, sales increased in the non-food sector and in motor fuels. (dpa)