Retail trade in Bulgaria among worst-hit in EU

November 2010 saw Bulgaria among the European Union states hardest-hit by declines in retail trade, measured on an annual basis, according to figures released on January 6 2011 by EU statistics office Eurostat.

In November 2010, compared with October 2010, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.8 per cent in the Euro area and by 0.4 per cent in the 27 member states of the EU.

In October, retail trade remained stable in the Euro area and rose by 0.1 per cent in the EU27.

In November 2010, compared with November 2009, the retail sales index rose by 0.1 per cent in the Euro area and by 0.8 per cent in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In November 2010, compared with October 2010, "
Food, drinks and tobacco"
declined by 0.9 per cent in the Euro area and by 0.4 per cent in the EU27. The non food sector dropped by 0.8 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively.

Among the EU states for which data were available, total retail trade fell in nine and rose in eight.

The largest decreases were observed in Portugal (-4.2 per cent), Lithuania (-1.9 per cent) and Belgium (-1.5 per cent), and the highest increases in Malta (+5.5 per cent), France (+0.9 per cent) and Estonia (+0.7 per cent).

Annual changes

In November 2010, compared with November 2009, "
Food, drinks and tobacco"
declined by 0.1 per cent in the Euro area and by 0.3 per cent in the EU27.

The non food sector gained 0.7 per cent and two per cent, respectively.

Among the EU member states for which data were available, total retail trade rose in 12 and fell in five.

The highest increases were observed in Poland (+11.8 per cent), Latvia (+8.1 per cent) and Estonia (+7.5 per cent), and the largest decreases in Romania (-8.9 per cent), Bulgaria (-5.2 per cent) and Portugal (-4.7 per cent).