In May 2017 compared with April 2017, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade rose by 0.4% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.2% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In April the retail trade volume increased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU28. In May 2017 compared with May 2016, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.6% in both the euro area and in the EU28.

The 0.4% increase in the volume of retail trade in the euro area in May 2017, compared with April 2017, is due to rises of 1.7% for automotive fuel and of 0.6% for non-food products, while "Food, drinks and tobacco" fell by 0.4%. In the EU28, the 0.2% increase in the volume of retail trade is due to rises of 1.2% for automotive fuel and of 0.3% for non-food products, while "Food, drinks and tobacco" fell by 0.4%. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Romania (+4.3%), Lithuania (+1.8%) and Hungary (+1.7%), while the largest decreases were observed in Finland (-1.2%), Slovenia and the United Kingdom (both -0.9%).