In May 2024, retail sales in the euro area and the European Union (EU) as a whole fell by 0.1% compared to April, Eurostat reports. At the same time, retail sales in Lithuania grew by 1.8%.

In April, the corresponding estimate fell by 0.2% month-on-month in the euro area and the EU. In Lithuania, retail sales volumes fell by 1.3% in April.

According to Eurostat, retail sales in the euro area increased by 0.3% in May 2024 compared to May 2023, while in the EU they increased by 0.6%.

Of the Member States for which data are available, the largest monthly contractions in retail sales were recorded in Slovakia at 1%, Ireland – 0.9% and Bulgaria and Malta – 0.8%. At the same time, the largest monthly increases in retail sales were recorded in Denmark – 2.3%, Lithuania – 1.8% and Luxembourg – 1.7%.

According to Eurostat, the largest annual contractions in retail sales are recorded in Belgium – 5.2%, Estonia – 4.0% and Slovenia – 1.1%. The largest annual increases in retail sales are seen in Luxembourg – 10.4%, Croatia – 8.4% and Romania – 6.5%.