Romania recorded in March the European Union ‘s (EU) fifth decline in the volume of retail trade in the same period last year, 5 pc, five times steeper than the figure recorded in the Union, according to data presented Wednesday by the Eurostat, the statistical office of EU, a press release informs. In March 2011, compared with March 2010, the retail sales index decreased by 1.7 pc in the euro area and by 1.0 pc in the EU27. In March 2011, compared with February 2011, “Food, drinks and tobacco” declined by 0.6 pc in the euro area and by 0.5 pc in the EU27.
The non food sector decreased by 1.1 pc in both zones. Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade declined in thirteen and increased in eight. The largest decreases were observed in Portugal (-4.7 pc), Slovenia (-3.0 pc), Germany (-2.1 pc) and Poland (-1.9 pc), and the highest increases in Estonia (+2.1 pc), Romania (+0.8 pc), Ireland and Latvia (both +0.6 pc). In February retail trade rose by 0.3 pc and 0.1 pc respectively.
