Euro-area retail volumes fell 0.7% in September 2026, on a seasonally adjusted basis, reversing August’s rise and signaling weaker monthly retail activity, the European Union’s statistical office Eurostat said.
On a calendar-adjusted basis, the euro-area retail volume index was 0.4% higher than in September 2025, while the EU index rose 0.9%. These annual comparisons use a different adjustment from the monthly figures. The EU’s seasonally adjusted retail volume declined 0.6% from August.
The euro-area breakdown was mixed. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, non-food volume excluding automotive fuel fell 1.2%, and volume in food, drinks and tobacco declined 0.3%. Automotive-fuel volume at specialized stores rose 1%.
Eurostat revised August’s monthly increases in both the euro area and the EU to 0.4%, from 0.1%. Among EU member states with available data, Germany recorded the largest monthly drop, with retail volumes falling 2%; EconoTimes previously covered Germany’s September retail sales decline.
Eurostat’s next retail-trade release is scheduled for Dec. 4.
