No data specific to Cyprus were communicated.

In February the retail trade volume rose by 0.3% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU28.

In March 2016 compared with March 2015 the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.1% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU28.

The 0.5% decrease in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in March 2016, compared with February 2016, is due to falls of 1.3% for ‘Food, drinks and tobacco’, of 0.5% for non-food products and of 0.4% for automotive fuel. In the EU28, the 0.7% decrease in the volume of retail trade is due to decreases of 1.3% for ‘Food, drinks and tobacco’, of 0.6% for non-food products and of 0.1% for automotive fuel.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in total retail trade were observed in Portugal (-5.2%), Denmark (-3.9%) and Estonia (-1.8%), while the highest increases were registered in Finland (+1.1%), Slovakia (+0.9%) and Bulgaria (+0.8%).

In an annual basis, the 2.1% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in March 2016, compared with March 2015, is due to rises of 2.5% for automotive fuel, of 2.1% for non-food products and for 1.5% for ‘Food, drinks and tobacco’.

In the EU28, the 2.4% increase in retail trade volume is due to rises of 3.6% for automotive fuel, of 2.5% for non-food products and of 1.5% for ‘Food, drinks and tobacco’. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in total retail trade were observed in Romania (+18.4%), Luxembourg (+14.8%), Bulgaria (+6.2%) and Ireland (6.1%), while the highest decreases were observed in Denmark (-4.9%) and Belgium (-2.2%).

Source: Famagusta Gazette