Latest data released by Eurostat - 6 May 2021
- Prior +3.0%; revised to +4.2%
- Retail sales +12.0% vs +9.4% y/y expected
- Prior -2.9%; revised to -1.5%
After the January slump, euro area retail sales continues to pick up in March with solid revisions to the February data as well. Non-food products were the biggest contributor, increasing by 4.6% on the month while offset by a 2.9% decrease in automotive fuels.
The year-on-year statistic shows a major jump largely due to base effect adjustments, considering the initial impact of the pandemic seen during March last year.