Retail sales in Europe rise 0.4% (MarketWatch) (03-03-2011)

LONDON – European retail sales market a monthly rise of 0.4% in January and were up 0.7% compared to the same month last year according to the European Union statistics agency Eurostat on Thursday.

A 0.3% monthly rise had been forecasted and a flat reading compared to January 2010. December sales were revised up to show a 0.4% monthly decline and a 0.4% year-on-year fall, compared to an earlier estimate of a 0.6% monthly fall and 0.9% year-on-year drop.

Separately, Eurostat made no change to its estimate of euro-zone fourth-quarter gross domestic product. GDP expanded by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter and was up 2% compared to the same period in 2009.

Source: MarketWatch