Malta one of only seven EU countries to experience increased retail trade in July

Retail trade in Malta increased by 3.5% in July when compared to the same month last year, figures released by Eurostat on Wednesday show.

Malta was only one of seven EU countries that experienced a year-on-year increase in retail trade.

The EU’s statistical agency reported that year-on-year retail sales in July decreased by 1% in the euro area and 1.2% in the EU.

On a monthly basis, retail trade in Malta increased by 0.5% in July when compared to the previous month.

In the euro area in July 2023, compared with June 2023, the volume of retail trade decreased by 1.2% for automotive fuels, while it increased by 0.4% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.5% for non-food products.

In the EU, the volume of retail trade decreased by 1.1% for automotive fuels, while it increased by 0.2% for food, drinks and tobacco and by 0.6% for non-food products.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest monthly decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Denmark and Ireland (both -2.3%), the Netherlands (-1.4%) and Luxembourg (-1.3%). The highest increases were observed in Portugal (+1.1%), Sweden (+1.0%) and Cyprus (+0.8%).

Year-on-year

In the euro area in July 2023, compared with July 2022, the volume of retail trade decreased by 3.4% for automotive fuels and by 2.2% for food, drinks and tobacco, while it grew by 1.1% for non-food products.

In the EU, the retail trade volume decreased by 3.9% for automotive fuels and by 2.4% for food, drinks and tobacco, while it grew by 0.7% for non-food products.

Among Member States, the largest yearly decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (-16.3%), Estonia (-8.6%) and Hungary (-7.6%). The highest increases were observed in Spain (+8.6%), Cyprus (+8.0%) and Luxembourg (+6.9%).