December saw a ninth consecutive monthly rise in sales at eurozone retailers, thereby equalling the longest period of growth in the series history (level with that seen in 2006). Rates of expansion quickened in Germany and France, while monthly retail sales fell only marginally in Italy. The headline IHS Markit Eurozone Retail PMI® - which tracks the month-on-month changes in retail sales in the bloc‟s biggest three economies combined - rose to 53.0 in December, from 52.4 in November.