EU retail sales rise in June

BRUSSELS, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Strong sales of food, beverages and tobacco products boosted overall retail sales in the eurozone 0.4 percent in June compared to the previous month's level.

Eurostat, an arm of the European Commission, also said Wednesday such sales lifted the June retail sales figures by 0.5 percent in the broader European Union, which includes 25 nations.

Food, beverages and tobacco sales rose 0.2 percent in the eurozone in June and 0.6 percent in the EU.

Nationally, the biggest retail sales increases were posted in June by Lithuania, 13.6 percent; Denmark, 9.6 percent; Sweden, 9.5 percent; Slovakia, 8.1 percent; Slovenia, 7.6 percent, and Finland, 6.1 percent.