Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 6, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleEuro zone retail sales dropped by 0.1% in September, contrary to a forecasted 0.2% increase, highlighting consumer caution despite ample savings.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Euro zone retail sales unexpectedly fell in September, challenging expectations for a consumption-led recovery and offsetting other mildly positive news from the 20-nation currency bloc, data from Eurostat showed on Thursday.
Retail trade fell by 0.1% on the month in September, coming short of expectations for a 0.2% rise, while sales were up 1.0% compared to a year earlier, in line with expectations.
Euro zone households are sitting on ample savings and the European Central Bank has long expected them to start running these down in a boost to growth, but uncertainty keeps consumers cautious and actual figures continue to be disappointing.
Retail sales expanded by 0.2% on the month in Germany, the bloc's biggest economy and 0.4% in Spain, but there were falls in Italy, France and the Netherlands, among the bloc's bigger nations.
Still, other data, including sentiment readings and PMI data, show that the economy is holding up and ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos said policymakers were now marginally more optimistic on growth.
Non-food products sales dropped by 0.2% on the month, fuel sales were down 1% and food sales were stagnant, Eurostat added.
(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Retail trade refers to the sale of goods and services to consumers. It encompasses various businesses, including stores, online shops, and other outlets that sell products directly to the public.
Economic growth is the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. It is typically measured by the rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Consumer perception is how individuals view and interpret a brand, product, or service. It influences their purchasing decisions and can be shaped by marketing, experiences, and reviews.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank for the euro and administers monetary policy within the Eurozone. Its primary goal is to maintain price stability and support economic growth.
Financial markets are platforms where buyers and sellers engage in the trade of financial assets, such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and derivatives. They play a crucial role in the economy by facilitating capital allocation.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
