Retail sales increased in the euro area and the European Union in May

According to data published on Friday by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, in May retail sales in the euro area increased by 0.1 percent, less than the 0.2 percent expected by analysts, and in the European Union it also expanded by 0.1 percent compared to April, when a 0.2 percent monthly decrease in turnover was registered in both the euro zone and the EU.

Compared to the previous month in the European Union, the retail turnover of food, beverages and tobacco products increased by 1.2 percent in May, with the exception of fuel, non-food products shrank by 0.4 percent, while that of fuel did not change on a monthly basis.

In an annual comparison, retail turnover in the euro area increased by 0.3 percent in May after the 0.6 percent expansion in April, exceeding the 0.1 percent increase expected by analysts.