Retail trade volumes edged down in the euro area in March 2026, while the broader European Union recorded a slight increase, reflecting mixed consumer demand across the

bloc, according to preliminary estimates released by Eurostat.

Compared with February 2026, seasonally adjusted retail trade volumes fell by 0.1% in the euro area, reversing only part of the previous month’s decline of 0.3%. Across the EU, retail sales rose by 0.3% after a 0.5% contraction in February.

On an annual basis, retail activity remained positive. Compared with March 2025, retail sales increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.9% across the EU.

The monthly performance was driven by diverging trends across sectors. In the euro area, sales of food, drinks and tobacco declined by 0.3%, while automotive fuel sales dropped sharply by 1.6%. Non-food products, excluding automotive fuel, provided some support with a 0.6% increase.

A similar pattern emerged across the EU, where food, drinks and tobacco sales slipped by 0.1% and automotive fuel sales fell by 0.8%. Meanwhile, non-food retail sales climbed by 1.0%.

Among member states, Slovenia posted the strongest monthly growth in retail trade, with sales rising 4.3%, followed by Luxembourg at 4.0% and Belgium at 3.6%. Germany recorded the steepest decline, with retail sales down 2.1%, while Malta, Italy and Latvia also registered slight decreases.

Annual figures painted a stronger picture for consumer spending. In the euro area, non-food retail sales rose 2.3% year-on-year, while food, drinks and tobacco sales increased 0.8%. Automotive fuel sales, however, declined by 2.1%.

Across the EU, non-food products led annual growth with a 3.1% increase, while food, drinks and tobacco sales rose 1.0%. Automotive fuel sales were broadly stable, slipping just 0.1%.

Bulgaria recorded the strongest annual increase in retail trade volumes at 12.4%, followed by Hungary at 8.2% and Malta at 7.5%. Romania and Germany were the only countries to post annual declines, falling by 2.3% and 2.0% respectively. Photo by Avij , Wikimedia commons.