In September 2021, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU, compared with August 2021, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In August 2021, the retail trade volume increased by 1.0% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU. In September 2021 compared with September 2020, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.5% in the euro area and by 3.2% in the EU. Monthly comparison by retail sector and by Member State In the euro area in September 2021, compared with August 2021, the volume of retail trade decreased by 1.5% for non-food products, while it rose for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.7% and for automotive fuels by 1.1%. In the EU, the volume of retail trade decreased by 1.3% for non-food products, while it rose for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.8% and for automotive fuels by 1.0%. Among Member States for which data are available, the largest monthly decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Germany (-2.5%), Finland (-1.9%) and the Netherlands (-1.2%). The highest increases were observed in Estonia (+7.1%), Slovakia (+2.9%) and Luxembourg (+2.3%). In Romania, retail sales increased by 0.2% month-on-month. Annual comparison by retail sector and by Member State In the euro area in September 2021, compared with September 2020, the volume of retail trade increased by 4.4% for automotive fuel, by 3.7% for non-food products and by 0.5% for food, drinks and tobacco. In the EU, the retail trade volume increased by 4.8% for non-food products and for automotive fuel and by 0.8% for food, drinks and tobacco. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest yearly increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Slovenia (+17.1%), Estonia (+16.8%) and Malta (+15.0%). Decreases were observed in Germany (-1.1%), Austria (-0.3%) and Spain (-0.1%).
Soulmates Ventures, a Prague-based Venture Capital (VC) firm, is strengthening its commitment to sustainable innovation with a EUR 50 million fund, increasing initial investments to up to EUR 3 million per startup, with follow-on funding totalling up to EUR 5 million to ensure long-term support. Investing under Article 9 of the SFDR, the accelerator and […]
The Public Transport Company of Timișoara (STPT), a major city in western Romania, said it will discontinue its electric scooter service, TroTM, starting this year. The decision comes due to concerns about the service’s efficiency and economic sustainability. Despite initial expectations, the TroTM service has seen limited usage, with only 350 users per month and […]
The Environmental Guard has fined Bucharest City Hall RON 100,000 (over EUR 20,000) for failing to implement several environmental measures, particularly regarding air quality and green space management. The sanction follows repeated inspections that revealed the municipality’s failure to comply with previous directives, according to the official announcement. One of the major issues identified is […]
The Babuk cybercrime network claims to have breached the system of the French telecommunications company Orange again on March 17, after the February 23 security breach, and stolen massive amounts of data. Now, the hackers threaten to make some of it public. In February, Romania’s National Cybersecurity Directorate, or DNSC, reported that the breach impacted […]
The isolationist far-right candidate, be it George Simion or Anamaria Gavrila, would win the first round of the presidential elections – but not at a wide margin, and either of them would lose in the second round against Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, according to a poll carried out by AtlasIntel for
The Ministry of Energy has mandated state-controlled Romgaz (BVB: SNG), the largest natural gas producer in Romania, to evaluate the takeover of the largest fertilizer production plant for Romanian agriculture, Azomureș, energy minister Sebastian Burduja said, according to
