Retail sales volume in the euro-zone up by 0.4 per cent

In November 2004 the volume of sales by the retail trade in the euro-zone rose by 0.4 per cent compared with November 2003, while it increased in the EU25 by 2.3 per cent. This is according to estimates published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.  Of the Member States for which data are available, Denmark (+13.1 %), Sweden (+8.0 %), the United Kingdom (+5.9 %), Poland (+5.7 %), Luxembourg (+4.9 %), France (+3.5 %), Spain (+3.2 %), Belgium (+2.3 %) and Portugal (+1.5 %) recorded an increase in overall retail sales. Only in Germany (-3.0 %) was a decline observed.