Eurozone retail sales rise in April

According to data published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, retail sales in the eurozone in April increased by 0.1 percent in line with analysts’ expectations, and in the European Union by 0.7 percent month-on-month, after a 0.4 percent increase in the eurozone and a 0.3 percent increase in the EU in the previous month.

In the European Union, retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco products increased by 0.9 percent in April compared to the previous month, while non-food products excluding fuel fell by 0.1 percent, while fuel sales increased by 1.7 percent month-on-month.

In annual terms, retail sales in the euro area grew by 2.3 percent in April, the fastest pace since October last year, following a 1.9 percent increase in March, well above the 1.4 percent increase expected by analysts.

Retail sales in the European Union rose by 2.8 percent on an annual basis in April, after registering a 1.7 percent increase a month earlier.