FX.co ★ Eurozone Retail Sales Inch Higher

Eurozone retail sales volumes edged up by 0.1% month-on-month in August 2026, broadly in line with market forecasts of a 0.2% rise and partially recovering from July’s 0.6% decline, the steepest drop in more than a year. Core non-food sales rebounded sharply, rising 0.5% after a 1.2% fall in July, suggesting renewed resilience in the face of higher borrowing costs and elevated prices. Sales of food, drinks, and tobacco also ticked up by 0.1%, following a 0.1% decrease in the prior month. By contrast, automotive fuel sales volumes slumped 1.9%, deepening July’s 0.2% decline as a surge in fuel prices prompted consumers to cut back on refuelling. On an annual basis, Eurozone retail sales increased by 0.8%, accelerating from July’s two-year low growth rate of 0.4%.