According to the report from Eurostat, in December 2020, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade rose by 2.0% in the euro area and by 1.4% the EU, compared with November 2020. Economists had expected a 1.6% increase in the euro area. In November 2020, the retail trade volume fell by 5.7% in the euro area and by 4.9% in the EU.

In December 2020 compared with December 2019, the calendar adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU. Economists had expected a 0.3% increase in the euro area.

The annual average retail trade for the year 2020, compared with 2019, fell by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU.

In the euro area in December 2020, compared with November 2020, the volume of retail trade increased by 5.1% for automotive fuels, by 1.9% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 1.5% for non-food products (within this category textile, clothing and footwear increased by 12.4%). In the EU, the volume of retail trade increased by 4.0% for automotive fuels, by 1.7% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.7% for non-food products (textile, clothing and footwear +10.0%).