Turnover of the retail sector in the 19 countries of the Eurozone fell by 2.4 per cent in May 2019 compared to a year ago. Revenues fell 4.3 per cent in April. In general, last year was negative for retail sales of the sector in the European Union of 19 states. The only months in which increases were marked in the sector were April, August and October. Otherwise there was a drop of over two per cent between May and July.

In the European Union as a whole (28 countries), trade in textiles, clothing and footwear fell by 1.9 per cent. Despite starting the year with a decline of 0.6 per cent in January, the sector’s retail turnover surged in February and March, with increases of 3.6 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively. However in April there was a decrease of 1.7 per cent.

In both the Euro area and the European Union as a whole, total sales of retail trade increased by 1.3 per cent in May 2019 compared to May the previous year. Luxembourg and Ireland were the territories that contributed most to the growth of the turnover of the whole of retail in Europe in May 2019, with increases of 7.4 per cent and seven per cent respectively.