Last Updated on Thursday, 4 June, 2020 at 11:36 am by Andre Camilleri
In April 2020, the COVID-19 containment measures widely introduced by Member States again had a significant impact on retail trade, as the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 11.7% in the euro area and by 11.1% in the EU, compared with March 2020, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In March 2020, the retail trade volume decreased by 11.1% in the euro area and by 10.1% inthe EU.
In April 2020 compared with April 2019, the calendar adjusted retail sales index decreased by 19.6% in the euro area and by 18.0% in the EU.
Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in April 2020, compared with March 2020, the volume of retail trade decreased by 27.7% for automotive fuels, by 17.0% for non-food products and by 5.5% for food, drinks and tobacco. In the EU, the volume of retail trade decreased by 25.0% for automotive fuels, by 14.7% for non-food products and by 5.9% for food, drinks and tobacco. It can be noted that the volume of retail trade by mail order and internet rose by 10.9% in the euro area and by 11.9% in the EU.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Malta (-25.1%), Romania (-22.3%) and Ireland (-21.9%). The only increase was observed in Finland (+0.3%), while the volume in Sweden remained stable.
Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State
In the euro area in April 2020, compared with April 2019, the volume of retail trade decreased by 46.9% for automotive fuels and by 33.6% for non-food products while food, drinks and tobacco increased by 2.5%. In the EU, the volume of retail trade decreased by 42.6% for automotive fuels and by 29.7% for non-food products while food, drinks and tobacco increased by 1.4%.
The volume of retail trade decreased in all Member States for which data are available, with the largest decreases in France (-31.1%), Spain (-29.8%), Malta (-24.8%) and Luxembourg (-24.7%).
