Retail sales fell by 1 per cent in the euro zone in March compared to February, according to new Eurostat figures published today.

This compares to a rise in sales of 0.3 per cent from January to February.

Retail sales for the EU27 fell by 0.8 per cent from February to March compared to a 0.1 per cent from January to February.

On an annual basis retail sales were down by 1.7 per cent in the euro zone and by 1 per cent in the EU27 in the year to the end of March.

From February to March 2011, sales for food, drinks and tobacco felly by 0.6 per cent in the euro zone and by 0.5 per cent for the European Union as a whole. The non food sector decreased by 1.1 per cent in both zones.

The largest decrease in retail sales were recorded in Portugal, Slovenia, Germany and Poland while the highest increases were in Estonia, Romania, Ireland and Latvia.

Annually, food, drinks and tobacco sales were down by 2.1 per cent in the euro zone and by 2.3 per cent in the EU27. Non-food sector sales were down by 0.8 per cent in the euro zone but increased by 0.4 per cent for the European Union as a whole.

The biggest fall in retail sales were observed in Spain, Denmark and Portugal while the biggest increases were in Poland, Luxembourg and Lithuania.