The EU seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.9% in November 2021 compared with the previous month, when it had risen by 0.4%, while the euro area saw a rise of 1.0% from 0.3% in October 2021, the EU statistical office Eurostat said on Friday.

In both regions, the volume of retail trade increased the most for non-food products, by 1.4% in the EU and 1.6% in the euro area. It fell only for automotive fuels, by 1.1% in the EU and 1.5% in the euro area.

Monthly comparison

The highest monthly increases were registered in Spain (+4.9%), Luxembourg (+4.0%) and Portugal (+2.8%), while the largest decreases were observed in Austria (-4.1%), Latvia (-3.6%) and Croatia (-3.1%).

Eurostat did not have data for Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland and Italy.

Annual comparison

In November 2021 compared with November 2020, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 7.9% in the EU and by 7.8% in the euro area.

In both regions, the volume of retail trade increased the most for automotive fuels, by 17.5% in the EU and by 19.5% in the euro area, reflecting the lifting of many of the restrictions imposed by governments in November 2020 to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

The volume of retail trade for non-food products increased by 11.7% in the EU and by 11.8% in the euro area.

The highest yearly increases were registered in Slovenia (+41.1%), France (+22.7%) and Poland (+14.5%), while decreases were observed in Latvia (-3.6%), Germany (-2.8%) and Finland (-1.9%).

In Croatia, the volume of retail trade increased by 3.4% in November 2021 compared with November 2020. In October 2021, it had risen by 8.7% year on year.