March Retail Trade Overview

Retail trade in the Eurozone and the European Union experienced a slight decline of 0.1% in March compared to the previous month, as reported by Eurostat. This minor dip contrasts with a year-on-year growth of 1.5% in the euro area and 1.4% in the EU, highlighting a resilient consumer sector despite monthly fluctuations.

Sector-Specific Trends

The sales volumes for food, drinks, and tobacco saw a marginal decrease of 0.1% in the euro area and a more pronounced 0.4% drop in the EU. Non-food products experienced a 0.1% decrease in the Eurozone, while the EU saw a slight 0.1% increase. Notably, automotive fuel sales in specialized stores rose by 0.4% across both regions.

Regional Highlights

Slovenia led the month-on-month decreases with a 2% drop, followed by Estonia at 1.3% and Slovakia at 0.9%. Conversely, Malta showcased the most significant retail sales growth at 2%, with Belgium and Croatia also performing well at 1.4%.