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%.

Smaller Stores Doing Better In June

Retail sales volumes were said to have increased by 1.6% in June 2012 compared with June 2011. Sales values from the retailing sector were said to have increased by 1.9% over the same period.

Small stores seem to have been doing better than the larger stores in June. Sales values at smaller stores increased by 4.1% whereas in the larger stores sales values increased by 1.2%.

The total amount spent over the period covered by the survey is estimated to have totalled £32.7bn. The average weekly spend was £6.5bn in June 2012. The average weekly value of Internet sales is estimated to have been £493.3m which equates to a proportion of 8.5% of total retail sales (excluding fuel).