Exceptions to European increases

In October 2002, as compared to October 2001, the volume of retail sales in the 15 EU member states increased by 2.7 per cent and in the euro-zone by 1.6 per cent. The only exceptions to this positive trend were Germany (-1.3 per cent), Belgium (-0.4 per cent) and Portugal (-0.3 per cent), according to figures supplied by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
You can find statistics and data illustrating the sales trends in the individual states under the Market data heading in DIYglobal plus (v. Other articles on this topic).