Euro Area Retail Sales Shrink in April

Retail sales volumes in the Eurozone fell 0.4% month-over-month in April 2026, following an upwardly revised 0.8% jump in March and compared to forecasts of a 0.3% drop. Sales decreased 0.9% for non-food products (except automotive fuel) and were down 2.7% for automotive fuel in specialised stores. In contrast, sales rose 0.9% for food, drinks, tobacco. Among the bloc's largest economies, retail sales in Germany decreased 0.2% and in Spain sales dropped 1.5% while in France, sales rose 0.3%. Year-on-year, retail sales went up 1%, less than an upwardly revised 2.1% jump in March and compare to forecasts of 0.3%.

Eurozone retail sales volumes declined by 0.1% month-over-month in March 2026, marking the third consecutive monthly drop but outperforming market expectations of a 0.3% fall. Fuel sales led the decline, plunging 1.6%, the steepest decrease since August 2023, due to rising fuel costs tied to the Middle East war. Food trade also fell by 0.3%, following a 0.5% drop in the previous month. In contrast, non-food product sales rose by 0.6%, the first increase since November. Among the bloc’s largest economies, sales fell in Germany (-2.1%) and Italy (-0.1%), but increased in Spain (1.2%), the Netherlands (1.1%) and France (0.2%). Annually, retail trade growth slowed to 1.2% in March from 1.3%, slightly above forecasts of 1%.

Eurozone retail sales edged down 0.2% month-on-month in February 2026, following stagnation in January and aligning with market forecasts. Food, drinks, and tobacco sales fell 0.5%, reversing two consecutive months of growth, while non-food product sales remained flat after two prior months of decline. In contrast, fuel trade rebounded with a 0.7% increase, reversing a 0.8% drop from the previous month. Among the bloc’s largest economies, sales fell in Germany (-0.6%), the Netherlands (-0.3%), and France (-0.1%), but held steady in Italy and Spain. Year-over-year, retail trade growth eased to 1.7% in February, down from 2.1% in January, slightly exceeding expectations of 1.6%.