BRUSSELS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Retail trade volume in the eurozone gained 0.4 percent in January compared with the previous month, the European Union's (EU's) statistical bureau Eurostat said Thursday.4 @; l8 U# e$ m, n; ]( `% U
This was the first time since August 2010 that retail trade volume increased in the 17-member bloc, according to Eurostat.' P2 Q& `- J9 A5 Z
In January, food, drinks and tobacco increased by 0.1 percent month-on-month, while the non food sector expanded 0.6 percent.
1 b( k$ N' c- M8 P6 ]* h; U1 E. W% a% G Year-on-year, the retail sales index gained 0.7 percent in the euro area, according to Eurostat.
% ]: [7 z5 C1 G Revised figures showed retail sales in the eurozone in December declined by 0.4 percent both on monthly and yearly basis.
6 [9 `6 B1 l! V: u { In the 27-nation EU, retail trade volume in January gained 0.6 percent from December and increased by 1.9 percent from the previous year.
- u+ m: v0 I1 d9 s+ A+ I' n* ^- \& ] Retail sales are an indication of household demand, one of the three major economic drivers. |
发表于 2012-8-16 08:12:37
