Comparing May 2014 with April 2014, the volume of retail trade has remained stable in the EU area. In the EU28 it decreased by 0.1%. This is reported by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU.

The monthly comparision by retail sector and member state has shown that the stable volume of retail trade in the non-food-sector rose by 0.3%, while „Food, drinks and tobacco“ fell. Automotive fuel has not changed.

In May 2014 Malta has been among the top 3 countries with the highest increase in total. Only Portugal (+2,9%) and Romania (+1,9%) had a higher percentage than Malta (+1,6%). The largest decrease has been observed in Latvia (-3,0%). 

From May 2013 to May 2014 the non-food-sector in the EU area is due to rises of 1.0%. “Food, drinks and tobacco” has increased by 0.3%, while automative fuel has risen by 0.8%.

The retail trade in the EU28 has increased by 1.2%.

Eurostat also published a survey on the structure of governments debts showing that it is mostly financed through securities other than shares and financial derivatives.

Malta (92% of total government debt), the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom (both 90%) pay most of their debts this way. The highest proportion of debt financed by securities has been observed in Belgium, Slovenia, Slovakia, France and Italy.

Last year Finland (82% of total government debt) had, followed by Latvia and Austria, the highest share of public debt in the non-resident sector. In the resident financial sector the biggest shares of debt are in Luxemburg.

Amog Poland and Italy, Malta was one of the few countries which had more than 10% debt in the resident non-financial sector.