Euro Area Retail Sales
Published:
Eurostat's monthly first estimate of the change in euro-area retail trade volumes.
Full explanation
Euro Area Retail Sales is Eurostat's first estimate of the volume of retail trade across the euro area — sales measured at constant prices, so it tracks quantities sold rather than money spent. Sales of motor vehicles and motorcycles are excluded. Calendars show two readings from the same release: the month-on-month change in the seasonally and calendar-adjusted volume, and the year-on-year change in the calendar-adjusted volume. It is published monthly, about five weeks after the reference month.
Why traders watch it
Household spending is a large part of the euro-area economy, so this release gives a timely read on consumer demand across the whole bloc rather than one member state.
Stronger vs weaker outcomes
Stronger-than-expected growth can suggest firmer consumer demand; weaker-than-expected growth can suggest households are spending less. The split between food, non-food and fuel helps show what drove the change.
A higher reading than expected may point to firmer household spending across the euro area.
A lower reading than expected may point to softer household spending across the euro area.
Higher readings mean retail volumes grew faster (or fell less); lower readings mean slower growth or a larger fall.
Release details
- Release frequency
- Monthly
- Published by
- EA
Typical volatility
Low. This is a volume measure (adjusted for prices) and first estimates are often revised. It is the euro-area aggregate and is a different release from national retail figures such as Germany's, Italy's or Spain's. Check whether a calendar shows the monthly or the annual comparison.
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