Retail sales in the euro area increased on a monthly basis, and decreased year-on-year in October

According to data published on Wednesday by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, in October retail sales in the euro area increased by 0.1 percent, slightly less than the 0.2 percent expected by analysts, and in the European Union it expanded by 0.3 percent compared to September, when in both the euro area and the EU, a 0.1 percent decrease in turnover was registered compared to August. October was the first month since June when retail sales in the euro area showed monthly growth.

In an annual comparison, after the 2.9 percent contraction in September, the retail turnover in the euro area decreased by 1.2 percent instead of the 1.1 percent expected by analysts, for the 13th consecutive month in October, while in the EU the 2.6 percent in September after a decrease, it fell by 0.9 percent in October.