In February 2023, retail trade decreased in Europe while stabilising in Croatia for the first time since the end of last summer, according to a Eurostat report released on Tuesday.

In February 2023, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU, compared with January 2023, when the volume increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU.

The largest decreases were recorded for automotive fuels, by 1.8% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU. All other product categories also recorded decreases, including food, ranging from 0.6 to 1%.

Among member states for which data are available, the largest monthly decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (-10.5%), Hungary and Poland (both -2%) and Sweden (-1.6%).

In Croatia, retail trade rebounded 0.2% from January, when it decreased 0.6%. The February increase was the first one after five months of falling.

Austria recorded the same monthly increase in February as Croatia.

The highest monthly increases were observed in Cyprus (+1.6%), Luxembourg (+0.8%) and Belgium (+0.7%).

In February 2023, compared with February 2022, the calendar adjusted retail sales index decreased by 3% in the euro area and by 3.1% in the EU.

In the euro area in February 2023, compared with February 2022, the volume of retail trade decreased by 4.9% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 1.8% for non-food products, while it grew by 1.1% for automotive fuels.

In the EU, the volume decreased by 4.9% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 1.9% for non-food products, while it grew by 0.1% for automotive fuels.

Among member states for which data are available, the largest yearly decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Hungary (-10.1%), Sweden (-8.5%) and Germany (-7.0%).

In Croatia, retail trade dropped for the eighth month in a row, by 4.9%, after a 4.4% annual decrease in January.

The highest annual increases were observed in Cyprus (+8.3%), Luxembourg (+6.8%) and Spain (+4.7%).