CdM | Eurozone retail sales grew less than expected in February. Compared to last month, seasonally adjusted retail trade volume increased by 0.3% (against the expected 0.5%) in the eurozone and by 0.2% in the European Union (EU), according to initial estimates from Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office. In January 2025, the volume of retail trade remained stable in the eurozone and grew by 0.1% in the EU.
In year-on-year terms, the volume of retail trade grew by 2.3% in the second month of the year, according to Eurostat. This represents an increase of five tenths of a percentage point compared to last month’s figure, as well as compared to consensus estimates. In the EU, retail trade remained stable at 2%.
In the eurozone, in February 2025, compared to January 2025, the volume of retail trade increased by 0.3% in food, beverages and tobacco, as well as in non-food products (except automotive fuels). The increase was greater, up to 1.4%, in automotive fuel in specialised stores. Compared with February 2024, retail sales increased by 1.4% for food, drinks and tobacco; by 2.5% for non-food products (except automotive fuel); and by 1.2% for automotive fuel in specialised stores.
Among the Member States with available data, the highest monthly increases in total retail trade volume were recorded in Cyprus (4.7%), Estonia (2.2%) and Lithuania (1.7%). The largest decreases were observed in Bulgaria (1.7%), the Netherlands (1.4%) and Poland (1.2%).
In year-on-year terms, the total volume of retail trade registered its highest increases in Luxembourg (10.3%), Cyprus (8.5%) and Estonia (5.2%). The largest decreases were observed in Poland (1.5%), Slovakia (1.4%) and the Netherlands (1.2%).
