Retail in the eurozone started the year with a slight increase in sales. In a monthly comparison, the industry’s revenues increased by 0.3 percent in January, as the European statistical office Eurostat announced on Monday in Luxembourg. Economists had expected a slightly stronger increase of 0.6 percent on average.
The increase follows a sales dampener in December, when sales in the important Christmas business fell by 1.7 percent. However, the December setback was not as severe as previously known. Eurostat revised the data significantly upwards. A decline of 2.7 percent had previously been reported.
The mail order and internet trade once again turned over significantly less. Year-on-year, total retail sales fell 2.3 percent in January. (dpa)
