Retail Trade Volumes Up 0.3% Across Europe

March 2014 saw retail trade increase across Europe by 0.3%. In February the increase in trade had been 0.1% in the euro area and 0.3% in the EU28. The annual comparison shows that in March 2014 compared with March 2013 the increase was 0.9% in the euro area and 1.6% in the EU28.

The 0.3% increase in the volume of retail trade on the monthly comparison in the euro area is due to a rise of 1.3% in the food, drinks and tobacco sector while the volume fell by 0.3% in the non-food sector and 0.1% in automotive fuel. In the EU28 the rise was due t rises of 1% for automotive fuel and 0.7% for food, drinks and tobacco.

The biggest increases were seen in Estonia and Latvia with 2.8%, France 2.3% and Romania with 2.2%. The decreases were in Portugal with a decrease of 1.7%, Austria with 0.9%, Germany, Ireland and Slovenia all with 0.7%.

The increase of 0.9% in volume over the year was due to rises of 1.9% in the non-food sector, 0.3% in automotive fuel and 0.3% in food, drinks and tobacco in the euro sector. The increase of 1.6% in the volume of retail trade in the EU28 was due to rises of 3.3% in the non-food sector and 1.8% for automotive fuel. Food, drinks and tobacco fell by 0.1%.

Romania saw the biggest increase with a rise of 13.4% in volume, Luxembourg was next with 12.1% and Hungary with 8.4%. Malta with -2%, Finland with -1.3%, Slovenia -1.1% and Spain with -0.6% saw the biggest decreases in volume of retail trade.

High Street Sales Increase As Prices Lower Than Last Year

Retail volumes increased by 4.2% compared with March 2013. The value of those sales increased by 3.9%. The prices of those goods sold in March decreased by 0.5%.

There are four main retail sectors, three out of the four saw an increase in the amount spent and for every pound spent in the retail industry in March 42p was spent in food stores, 41p was spent in non-food stores, 6p was spent in non-store retailing and 11p was spent in stores selling automotive fuel. The largest increase was in the non-food sector.

Within non-food stores two areas of growth were notable: textiles, clothing and footwear and household goods. In March 2014 the quantity bought in textile, clothing and footwear stores increased by 7.1%, the largest year on year increase since April 2010. he amount spent increased by 7.3% year on year and 4.3% month on month. The quantity bought in household goods increased by 9.2% compared with March last year and the quantity spent increased by 8.5%.

The distribution of sales values according to businesses ranked by size of business according to number of employees shows that businesses with more than 100 employees sales grew by 0.2%, 40-99 employees grew by -7%, 10-39 employees by 6.1% and 0-9 employees grew most with growth of 16.5%.

European Retail Trade Up 1.6% In January

European retail volumes were up by 1.6% in the euro area in January compared with December 2013 according to Eurostat. The EU28 reported increases of 0.9%. In January 2014 compared with January 2013 retail trade increased by 1.3% and 1.9% respectively.

The increase in the monthly comparison in the euro area is due mainly to increases in the non-food sector of 1.9%, 1.5% for automotive fuel and 1.1% for food, drinks and tobacco. In the EU 28 the rise is due to an increase of 1.4% for automotive fuel, 1.3% for non-food sector and 0.3% for food, drinks and tobacco.

The main contributors to the 1.3% increase in the volume of retail trade in the annual comparison in the euro area were increases of 2.9% for automotive fuel, 2.5% in the non-food sector while food drinks and tobacco fell by 0.4%. In the EU28 the 0.9% increase was due to increases of 3.6% in the non-food sector, 2.1% in automotive fuel and 0.1% in food, drinks and tobacco.

Online Sales Continue To Grow - BRC

The latest BRC online retail sales monitor report says that online sales have continued to grow on last September. Non-food products grew by 13.4% on last year. Online sales accounted for 17.5% of total non-food sales.

The importance of online sales in some sectors shows as clothing and footwear would have shown a decline in September if not for the online facility. Online sales growth was slower than in August but still impressive given the strong growth of last year.

Non-Food Sector Takes Retail Volumes Down

The volume of retail trade in Europe fell in March 2013 compared with February 2013 by 0.1% in the euro area and 0.2% in the EU27. The figures from Eurostat also include the annual comparison and between March 2012 and March 2013 the index fell by 2.4% in the euro area and 1.6% in the EU27.

During March the food, drinks and tobacco sector increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1% in the EU27 but the non-food sector fell by 0.5% and 0.6% respectively. Total retail trade fell in nine countries and rose in eleven. Over the year food, drinks and tobacco fell by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27 but the non-food sector fell even more by 3.3% and 2% respectively. Retail trade fell in fourteen countries and rose in seven. The biggest fall in retail trade was in Spain with -10.5%.

Retail Trade Down Across Europe

In April compared with March 2012 retail trade fell across Europe by 1% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27. When compared with April 2011 retail trade fell by 2.5% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU27. The food sector fell by 2.3% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU27 and the non-food sector fell by 2.1% and 0.7% respectively. The volume of retail trade fell in twelve of the Member States and grew in nine. The largest decreases were in Spain (-9.6%), Portugal (-9.3%) and Malta (-4.6%) and the greatest increases were in Estonia (8.5%), Latvia (7.8%) and Romania 3.4%).

High Street Slows Down In April

Retail sales values increased over the year by 0.4% to April 2012 (0.9% excluding automotive fuel). It is the slowest rate of growth since January 2010. Sales volumes fell by 1.1% over the same yearly period (0.3%% excluding automotive fuel). It is the largest fall in sales volumes since August 2011. The growth slow down was due mainly to predominantly food stores, predominantly automotive fuel stores and textile, clothing and footwear stores. Sales values in food stores grew by 0.1%, the slowest annual growth since January 1989. The fall in sales volumes in predominantly automotive fuel stores was the largest fall since February 1996. The biggest percentage of retailing went to predominantly non-food stores with 43.2%, predominantly food stores accounted for 41.7%, non-store retailing 4.9% and automotive fuel accounted for 10.2%. The total value of spending in the retail sector in April was estimated to be £25.9bn and the average weekly spend £6.5bn. Internet sales values in April were £489m, up 18.1% compared with April 2011. Internet sales are estimated to account for 8.5% of all retail sales excluding automotive fuel. Non-store retailing accounts for 60.6% of all Internet sales. Food sales has the lowest proprtion with 3.2%.

Retail Sales Down 0.4% In Euro Area

Euro area retail trade fell by 0.4% in terms of volume in December 2011 compared with November while it grew by 0.3% in the EU27 over the same period. Food, drinks and tobacco fell by 0.2% in the euro area and grew by 0.3% in the EU27. Non-food sector categories grew by 0.3% in the EU27 but fell by 0.1% in the euro area.

Total retail trade fell in eleven states and grew in eight states remaining stable in Ireland and Sweden. The highest increases were in Portugal (2.2%), Belgium (1.5%) and Poland (0.7%) and the biggest decreases were in Malta and Slovenia (both -3.1%) and Latvia (-2%).

The annual comparison shows that in December 2011 compared with December 2010 the food, drinks and tobacco sector fell by 1.3% in the euro area and 0.6% in the EU27 and the non-food sector decreased by 1.5% in the euro area but grew by 0.8% in the EU27. The total retail sales index for the EU27 shows growth of 0.1% but in the euro area a fall of 1.6%.

Trade fell in ten states but rose in eleven. The largest increases were in Lithuania (13%), Latvia (7.1%) and the UK (6.3%). The biggest falls in trade were recorded in Portugal (-8.8%), Spain (-5.3%) and Slovakia (-3.3%) (Eurostat).

Retail Trade Lower Across Europe In November

First estimates from Eurostat suggest that retail trade volumes in the euro area fell by 0.8% over the month and by 2.5% over the year. In the EU27 trade fell by o.6% during November and 1.3% over the year.

Over the month the food, drinks and tobacco sector fell by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27. The non-food sector fell by 0.7% in both areas. Retail trade fell in 13 countries and rose in 7. Over the year, food, drinks and tobacco fell 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27 while the non-food sector fell by 3% and 1.1% respectively. Over the year retail trade volumes fell in 10 member states and rose in 10.

September Retail Trade Down In Europe

The volume of retail trade in Europe fell in both the euro zone and the EU in general in September when compared with August 2011. The year on year retail sales index also fell in both areas.

Volume fell by 0.7% in the euro area and 0.3% in the EU27 during the month between August and September. The non-food sector fell by 0.8% in the euro area and 0.9% in the EU while food, drink and tobacco remained unchanged in the euro area and rose by 0.1% in the EU27. The total retail trade index fell in 11 of the member states and rose in 8. The highest decreases were in Portugal (-3.7%), Slovenia (-2.1%) and Spain (-1.7%) and the largest increases were in Poland (2.4%), UK (1%) and Latvia (0.9%).

The index fell by 1.5% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU27 when comparing 2010 and 2011. The food category fell by 0.5% in the euro area and 0.4% in the EU as a whole. The non-food sector fell by 1.9% and 0.8% respectively. The highest decreases were in Malta (-7.5%), Portugal (-6.2%) and Spain (-5.8%). The highest increases were in Lithuania (10.6%), Luxembourg (8.3%) and Latvia (8.1%).

August Retail Slightly Down On July

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, says that the volume of retail trade fell by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27 in August 2011 compared with July. Comparing August 2011 with August 2010 the retail sales index fell by 1% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU27.

The food sector increased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27 in August compared with JUly. The non-food sector increased by 0.6% in both zones. Year on year, both sectors fell. The food sector fell by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27 and the non-food sector fell by 1.3% and 0.7% respectively.

Fall In Household Consumption

Household final consumption expenditure fell by 0.8% during the second quarter of 2011.

The biggest contributions to the negative growth were from the transport and food sectors. Positive contributions came from clothing and footwear and miscellaneous.

Small Retailers See Larger Increase In Sales In March

The most recent retail sales index published by the ONS shows that the seasonally adjusted value of retail sales increased by 4.5% in March 2011 compared to March 2010 and the volume increased by 1.3%. The index also showed that on a month by month basis sales increased by 0.1% in value and 0.2% in volume between February and March 2011.

The March bulletin also included a supplementary study on small and large retail stores. The non-seasonally adjusted volume decreased by 0.1%. Over the same period large retailers decreased by 1.2% but small retailers increased by 3.9%. The biggest difference between large and small store growth was on food stores. The growth rate for all stores showed a 3.2% decrease but a 4.1% decrease for large stores and a 2.5% decrease for small stores. Food stores can be sub-divided into specialised and non-specialised stores. Non-specialised stores decreased by 3.1% within which large stores decreased by 4.4% but small stores increased by 12.3%. Specialised stores increased by 0.4%.

The non-food stores showed more varied results. Small non-specialised stores saw the biggest increase with 31.2%, followed by small other non-food stores with 8.5% and all other non-food stores with 7.6%. The biggest decrease was in small household goods stores with -10.2% with all household goods stores and large household goods stores following with -8.7% and -8.1% respectively.

Small stores are those with less than 100 employees. Large retailers are those with more than 100 employees or those with less than 100 employees but a turnover greater than £60m. All 900 large retailers were included in the sample. a representative sample of 4,100 small retailers was also included in the sample. The largest growth was in the 10-39 employment group with an average increase of 6.6%, then 0.9 employees with 6.5% average growth, 40-99 reprted 5.2% growth and the group with over 100 employees reported growth of 2.3%.

Price estimates for retail sales between March 2010 and March 2011 rose by 4.4%. The value of Internet sales in March 2011 was £529m or 9.8% of total retail sales in March.

Retail Sales Increases Again In September

The value and volume of retail sales increased in September 2010. The value increased by 2.4% and the volume by 0.5% compared with September 2009. Non-store retailing provided an increase of 11.8% in value. Food stores added 1.7% to the value of sales and non-food stores 4.4%. The increase in volume was driven by significant increases of 13.5% in non-store retailing and 12.8% in fuel. Predominantly non-food stores increased volume by 3.8% and food stores by 2.3%. Internet retail sales increased by £481m in September 2010 totalling 8.8% of all retail sales (excluding fuel).

Retail Sales Up In August

The value and volume of retail sales both increased in August 2010 compared with August last year. The volume increased by 0.4% but the value increased by 1.9% over the same period.

In food stores sales values decreased by 0.4% while volumes increased by 3.5%. In non-food stores increased monthly sales values by 4.2% and volumes by 4.6%. The non-store retailing sector increased sales values by 14.6% on last year and volume of sales increased by 16.6%.

Within the predominantly non-food stores catoegory, non-specialised stores reported the largest rises with a 9.7% increase in sales values and a 10.8% increase in sales volumes. Textile, clothing and footwear increased sales values by 6.4% and sales volumes by 7.5%. Household goods stores decreased sales values by 1.8% and sales volumes by 1.5%. The average weekly value of Internet retail sales in August was £473 million or 8.7% of total retail sales.

Food Price Inflation Highest For A Year

Total shop price inflation showed a marginal increase from 1.5% in July to 1.7% in August. Food inflation was the highest July 2009 when it was also 3.8%. Non-food price inflation was 0.5% from 1% in July.

European Retail Volume Up By 0.1%

July 2010 saw an increase of 0.1% in retail trade volumes in both the euro area and the EU27 compared with June. Over the year to July 2010 retail trade increased by 1.1% in the euro area and 1% in the EU27.

The food sector grew by 0.3% in the euro area and 0.1% in the EU27 over the month and 1.4% in the euro area and 0.5% in the EU27 over the year. The non-food sector decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and increased by 0.2% in the EU27 over the month and increased by 1.8% in the euro area and 2.5% in the EU27 over the year.

Retail Sales Up 2.5%

The value of retail sales in June 2010 went up by 2.5% compared with June 2009 according to the ONS Retail Sales Index. The index stood at 116.3 compared with 116.2 in May 2010 an increase of 0.1% and 113.5 in June 2009. The volume rose by 1.3%. The index was 113.1 compared with 111.7 in June 2009 and 112.3 in May 2010 an increase of 0.7%.

In food stores the value of sales was up by 1.7% on a year ago while the volume was 0.2% lower. The value of sales rose by 3.7% in non-food stores along with an increase of 4.4% in the volume of sales. Household goods rose by 4.4% in value and 6.1% in volume, textiles, clothing and footwear increased in sales value by 3.3% and in volume by 4.2%. The non-specialised store category sales increased in value by 9.1% and volume increased by 10.3%. Non-store retailing increased sales values by 14.1% and volume by 14.8%. The figures are seasonally-adjusted.

Non-seasonally adjusted prices were estimated to have risen by 1.3% compared with June 2009. The value of fuel sales was 3.6% lower than last year but the volume was 15.9% lower. The value of Internet retail sales in June was estimated to have been £437m which equates to 7.9% of total retail sales (excluding fuel). The total value of sales in June 2010 was estimated to have been £30.9bn (non-seasonally-adjusted) and the average weekly value was £6.2bn.

Different sized retailers have a mix of experiences in terms of growth of sales value and volume. The biggest retailers with over 100 employees reported an average 3.3% increase in sales between June 2009 and June 2010. The smallest retailers, with 0-9 employees, sales fell by 0.9% over the same period. Those employing 40-69 employees experienced 51.3% growth over the year but businesses with 70-99 employees saw their sales decrease by 45.7%.

High Street Sales Up In June

Retail sales increased 1.2% on a like-for-like basis on June 2009 according to the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor (RSM) for June 2010 and 3.4% on a total basis.

The World Cup and the hot weather helped food sales growth but clothing and footwear sales growth slowed as many people had done their shopping in May. Non-food non-store sales were 17.3%, higher than this time last year, but lower than the 21.9% in May.

Price Volatility Over For Now

The BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index for June 2010 says shop price inflation fell to 1.5% in June 2010 from 1.8% in May. Food price inflation was 1.7% from 2.2% and non-food price inflation 1.4% from 1.6%. The Director General of the BRC said shop price volatility looks to be over for now and low stable inflation is likely for the rest of the year.