Price-adjusted retail volume increased by 0.1% in both the euro area and the European Union in August 2026 compared with July. Year on year, growth was 0.8% in the euro area and 1.2% in the EU.
Non-food goods performed relatively better. In the EU, their volume grew by 0.5% month on month and 2.2% compared with August 2025. Automotive fuel sales fell by 1.3% month on month and 1.9% year on year.
Differences between countries remain substantial. Sweden, Cyprus and Estonia recorded the strongest annual growth, while Malta, Spain, Italy and Germany contracted. For internationally active webshops, this underlines why a single European inventory forecast can hide local differences in demand.
Eurostat measures total retail trade rather than e-commerce alone. The figures are therefore most useful as a broad demand indicator alongside Dutch turnover data and your own order, average order value and return trends.