Eurozone retail sales are up more than expected

The European Union statistics office Eurostit said today that retail sales in 19 euro-zone member states rose 1.5% in October after falling 1.7% in September and analysts had expected retail sales to rise 0.8% in October. On an annual basis, retail sales in the Eurozone rose to 4.3% in the twelve months to October, and in October gasoline sales fell sharply, by 3.7% month-on-month and 9.6% year-on-year. Online and mail order sales increased 6.1% month-on-month and increased 28.5% year-on-year while sales of apparel and shoes from stores fell 2.8% month-on-month and 14.0% year-over-year.