Eurozone retail sales rose 1.5% in June from a revised figure in May, according to a press release from the European statistical agency Eurostat. Analysts predicted an increase of 1.7%. May's estimate was revised downward: Eurostat now estimates growth at 4.1% instead of 4.6%. On an annualized basis, retail sales in the euro area rose 5%. Analysts had expected an increase of 4.5%. The May figure was also revised to 8.6% from 9%. In all EU countries, retail sales increased by 1.2% compared to May, and on an annualized basis – by 5.3%. The countries with the strongest growth in retail sales are Bulgaria (+ 22.7%), Lithuania (+ 15.3%) and Slovenia (+ 12.8%). In Luxembourg, a decline of 3.2% was recorded.
