August 2012 m/m retail trade growth flat in Bulgaria
The volume of retail trade remained unchanged in Bulgaria from July 2012 to August, according to first-estimate figures released on October 3 by European Union statistics agency Eurostat.
This followed a 0.2 per cent decrease in retail trade volume from June to July in Bulgaria, and 0.9 per cent from May to June.
In August 2012 compared with July 2012, the volume of retail trade rose by 0.1 per cent in the 17-member euro area and fell by 0.1 per cent across the 27 member states of the EU, Eurostat said. In Jul, retail trade increased by 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent in the euro zone and in the EU, respectively.
In August 2012, compared with August 2011, the retail sales index fell by 1.3 per cent in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27.
Monthly comparison
In August 2012, compared with July 2012, “Food, drinks and tobacco” increased by 0.1 per cent in both zones. The non food sector fell by 0.7 per cent in the euro area and by 0.8 per cent in the EU27.
Among the member states for which data are available, total retail trade rose in 12, fell in seven and remained stable in Belgium and Bulgaria. The highest increases were registered in Luxembourg (+2.9 per cent), Portugal (+2.8 per cent), Slovenia (+2.2 per cent) and Spain (+2.1 per cent), and the largest decreases in Poland (-1.3 per cent),Denmark (-1.1 per cent), France and Lithuania (both -0.8 per cent).
Annual comparison
In August 2012, compared with August 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 0.9 per cent in the euro area and by 0.2 per cent in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 1.5 per cent in the euro area, but rose by 0.5 per cent in the EU27.
Among the member states for which data are available, total retail trade fell in nine and rose in 12. The largest decreases were observed in Portugal (-6.0 per cent), Malta (-5.4 per cent) and Denmark (-3.5 per cent), and the highest increases in Latvia (+10.0 per cent), Luxembourg (+9.2 per cent) and Estonia (+7.2 per cent).
(Illustration: Ivan Prole/sxc.hu)
