site.btaJuly Retail Trade in Bulgaria Up by 0.6% Monthly, 6% Annually

The volume of retail trade in Bulgaria rose by 0.6% in July 2025 compared to June 2025, which is the seventh largest increase in the EU, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published on the organization’s website on Thursday. In June, Bulgaria recorded a higher increase of 0.7% compared to the previous month. In May, retail trade grew by 2.2% on a monthly basis.

On an annual basis, retail trade in Bulgaria increased by 6% in July 2025 compared with July 2024, which is the third largest annual increase in retail trade volume, after June and May saw higher growth of 6.8% and 7.2%, respectively.

Across the EU, the seasonally adjusted retail trade volume decreased by 0.4% in July 2025 compared with June 2025, and in the euro area it went down by 0.5%, Eurostat said.

In June 2025, retail trade volume grew by 0.5% in the EU and by 0.6% in the euro area.

The calendar adjusted retail sales index in July 2025, compared with July 2024, increased by 2.4% in the EU and by 2.2% in the euro area.

In the EU, in July 2025, compared with June 2025, the volume of retail trade registered a decrease for food, drinks, tobacco by 0.9%, an increase for non-food products by 0.2%, a decrease for automotive fuel in specialized stores by 1.3%.

In the euro area the volume of retail trade registered a decrease for food, drinks, tobacco by 1.1%, an increase for non-food products by 0.2%, a decrease for automotive fuel in specialized stores by 1.7%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest monthly decreases in the total retail trade volume were recorded in Croatia (-4.0%), Estonia (-2.0%) and Germany (-1.5%). The highest increases were observed in Lithuania (+1.5%), Latvia (+1.4%) and the Netherlands (+1.1%).

In the EU, in July 2025, compared with July 2024, the volume of retail trade registered an increase for food, drinks, tobacco by 0.7%, an increase for non-food products by 3.3%, an increase for automotive fuel in specialized stores by 3.3%.

In the euro area  the volume of retail trade registered an increase for food, drinks, tobacco by 0.9%, an increase for non-food products by 3.1%, an increase for automotive fuel in specialized stores by 2.3%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest annual increases in the total retail trade volume were recorded in Cyprus (+8.5%), Portugal (+6.1%) and Bulgaria (+6.0%). The only decrease was observed in Slovenia (-0.7%), according to the Eurostat report.