Eurozone Retail Sales Edge Up 0.1% in August Amid Mixed EU Trends

Retail sales in the eurozone showed modest growth in August 2025, rising 0.1% from the previous month after a decline in July, indicating a resilient economy despite external challenges such as U.S. tariffs. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales increased by 1.0% in the eurozone and 1.1% across the European Union, with non-food product sales contributing positively while food and beverage sales saw minor fluctuations. Hungary experienced an acceleration in retail sales growth to 2.4% annually, driven primarily by a strong increase in non-food product sales and online retail. Bulgaria posted a solid annual retail growth of 4.9%, ranking among the highest in the EU, although monthly sales remained flat. The largest monthly retail sales increases within the EU were observed in Lithuania, Cyprus, Malta, and Sweden, while Romania, Poland, Luxembourg, and Portugal saw declines. Overall, these trends reflect a mixed but generally positive retail environment across the EU and eurozone, supported by consumer demand and stable borrowing costs.