According to the data released by Eurostat, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.4% in the European Union in February 2012 compared to January of the same year. In addition, in February 2012, compared with February 2011, the retail sales index fell by 1.1%
in the EU.

The first estimates on the EU retail trade index in February 2012 provided from the statistical office of the European Union Eurostat, show that the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU, compared with January 2012. In February 2012 compared with January 2012, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU. In January retail trade rose by 1.1% and 0.9% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in ten and rose in eleven. The largest decreases were observed in February 2012 compared to January 2012 in Slovenia (-5.0%), Poland (-2.7%) and Romania (-2.5%), and the highest increases in Malta (+4.7%), Luxembourg (+2.2%) and Denmark (+1.9%). In annual terms, total retail trade fell in eight and rose in thirteen. The largest decreases were observed in Portugal (-9.6%), Bulgaria (-6.4%) and Spain (-6.2%), and the highest increases in Estonia (+14.8%), Latvia (+10.0%) and Denmark (+8.1%).

As for sectoral data, in February 2012, the non food sector remained stable in the euro area and fell by 0.3% in the EU. Compared to February 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.0% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU. The non food sector decreased by 1.6% and 0.2% respectively.