Finance

Euro zone retail sales fall more than expected in July

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 4, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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Euro zone retail sales fall more than expected in July
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FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Retail sales growth in the euro zone slowed further in July, raising doubts that healthy domestic consumption could continue to offset a hit to economic growth from U.S. tariffs,

Euro Zone Retail Sales Decline More Than Anticipated in July

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Retail sales growth in the euro zone slowed further in July, raising doubts that healthy domestic consumption could continue to offset a hit to economic growth from U.S. tariffs, data from Eurostat showed on Thursday.

Retail sales in the 20 nations sharing the euro fell by 0.5% on the month, underperforming expectations for a 0.2% monthly drop, while sales were 2.2% higher than a year ago, below the 2.4% rise seen in a Reuters poll of economists.

Euro zone growth was unexpectedly strong in first half of the year as household consumption picked up and economists have been debating whether this increase was sustainable given the hit to sentiment from tariffs and economic turmoil elsewhere.

(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Key Takeaways

  • Retail sales in the euro zone fell by 0.5% in July.
  • The decline was larger than the expected 0.2% drop.
  • Sales were 2.2% higher than a year ago, below expectations.
  • Economic growth concerns rise amid U.S. tariffs.
  • Euro zone's strong growth in the first half is under debate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the percentage decline in retail sales for July?
Retail sales in the euro zone fell by 0.5% on the month.
How did the July retail sales compare to the previous year?
Sales were 2.2% higher than a year ago, which was below the expected 2.4% rise.
What factors are affecting euro zone economic growth?
Economic growth is being impacted by U.S. tariffs and concerns about the sustainability of household consumption.
What was the retail sales expectation for July?
Expectations were for a 0.2% monthly drop, which was underperformed by the actual 0.5% decline.
What has been the trend in euro zone growth in the first half of the year?
Euro zone growth was unexpectedly strong in the first half of the year as household consumption picked up.

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