European retail sales rise in August

Though many European countries are grappling with austerity measures, European retail sales rose in August vs. the same month last year, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Non-food retail sales in the Euro area, which encompasses 16 countries, rose 2.5%.

In the larger EU27, non-food retail sales rose 3.6%

Here results for some select countries. These figures include food sales:

Poland: +6.7%

Finland: +5.5%

Latvia: +4.6%

Sweden: +3.3%

France: +3.1%

Germany: +2.1

UK: +0.5

Spain: -4.6%

Bulgaria: -4.3%