Retail trade volumes in the euro area edged down 0.1% in September 2025 from August, while remaining unchanged across the European Union (EU), according to preliminary figures from Eurostat.  

The latest move follows a 0.1% decline recorded in both the euro area and the EU in August. 

On an annual basis, calendar-adjusted retail sales index rose1% in the Eurozone and 1.3% in the EU compared with September 2024. 

Within the euro area, monthly retail volumes in September 2025 were flat for food, drinks and tobacco.  

Non-food trade excluding automotive fuel slipped 0.2%, and sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores fell 1%. 

Across the EU, volumes declined 0.2% for food, drinks and tobacco, remained unchanged for non-food excluding automotive fuel, and dropped 0.9% for automotive fuel sold in specialised outlets. 

Among member states with available data, the sharpest monthly falls in total retail volumes were in Lithuania, down 1.1%, followed by Latvia and Slovenia, both down 0.7%, and Italy, down 0.6%.  

The strongest increases were reported in Luxembourg and Malta, both up 1.7%, with Estonia up 1.5% and Slovakia up 1.4%. 

Comparing September 2025 with a year previously, euro area retail volumes rose by 1% for food, drinks and tobacco, increased by 1.4% for non-food excluding automotive fuel, and declined by 0.7% for automotive fuel in specialised stores.  

In the EU, annual volumes increased 0.5% for food, drinks and tobacco, 1.9% for non-food excluding automotive fuel, and 0.5% for automotive fuel in specialised stores. 

On a yearly basis by member state, the largest gains in total retail trade volumes were in Cyprus (up 8.5%), Malta (up 6.6%) and Bulgaria (up 5.7%).  

Declines were registered in Italy (down 2.3%), Romania (down 2.1%), Belgium (down 0.8%) and Austria (down 0.1%).