According to estimates from Eurostat, in November 2020, the COVID-19 containment measures introduced again by several Member States had a significant impact on retail trade, as the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 6.1% in the euro area and by 5.0% the EU, compared with October 2020. Economists had expected a 3.4% decrease. In October 2020, the retail trade volume rose by 1.4% in both the euro area and in the EU.

In November 2020 compared with November 2019, the calendar adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 2.9% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU.

In the euro area in November 2020, compared with October 2020, the volume of retail trade decreased by 10.6% for automotive fuels, by 8.9% for non-food products (within this category mail orders and internet increased by 1.8%) and by 1.7% for food, drinks and tobacco. In the EU, the volume of retail trade decreased by 7.7% for automotive fuels, by 7.3% for non-food products (mail orders and internet +2.3%) and by 1.5% for food, drinks and tobacco.