In July, retail sales rose in the euro area and the EU

Analysts expected a monthly expansion of 0.4 percent in the euro zone.

With seasonal adjustment, the performance of the sector fell by 1.2 percent in the countries using the euro, and by 1.3 percent in the EU, compared to the previous month, which was the fastest decline this year.

Annually, retail sales fell by 0.9 percent in the euro area and by 0.5 percent in the EU, according to seasonally adjusted data. Analysts expected a 0.7 percent annual decline in turnover in the euro area, while the retail sector shrank by 3.2 percent on an annual basis in the previous month.

The turnover of food, beverages and tobacco in the euro area increased slightly, by 0.1 percent, compared to June after three consecutive months of decline. In the EU, however, turnover in this product category decreased by 0.1 percent. The turnover of non-food products in the euro area and the EU fell by 0.4 and 0.2 percent, respectively, on a monthly basis.

Retail sales of fuel in the euro area rose by 0.4 percent and in the EU by 0.3 percent compared to the previous month.

MTI