BRUSSELS: The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.3 percent in the 19-member euro zone and by 0.1 percent in the wider 28-member European Union (EU) in December 2015, compared with November 2015, figures showed Wednesday.
In November last year, retail trade remained stable in the eurozone and rose by 0.3 percent in the EU, according to data issued by Eurostat, or the EU’s statistical office.
Moreover, by annual comparison, in December 2015, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.4 percent in the euro area and by 2.0 percent in the EU, the office said.
The average retail trade for the year 2015, compared with 2014, rose by 2.4 percent in the single currency zone and by 3.0 percent in the EU, it added.
In December 2015, among the EU member states, the highest year-on-year increases in total retail trade were observed in Romania (14.3 percent), Ireland (6.1 percent), Estonia (5.8 percent) and Poland (5.5 percent), while the highest decreases were observed in Portugal (minus 1.3 percent), Belgium (minus 1.2 percent) and Denmark (minus 0.3 percent).
