Retail in Europe shows slight gains

BRUSSELS, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Retail sales rose throughout Europe September to October, the official data office Eurostat said Monday.

Sales receipts in the 17-nation eurozone and the 27-member European Union rose 0.4 percent, Eurostat said.

From October 2010, sales dropped 0.4 percent in the eurozone, but "remained stable" in the EU, Eurostat said.

Sales of food, drinks and tobacco rose 0.2 percent in the eurozone and 0.1 percent in the EU month to month. Sales of non-food items rose by 0.5 percent in the eurozone and 0.8 percent in the EU, data shows.

Nationally, retail sales rose furthest in Malta, where sales increased 3.7 percent on an annual basis. Sales fell sharpest in Portugal, falling 3.3 percent, Eurostat said.