Italian retail trade index remains relatively flat sequentially in February

Estimates of Italian retail trade index remained comparatively flat in February 2019. According to Istat, retail trade index rose 0.1 percent sequentially, while it dropped 0.1 percent in terms of volume. In the three months to February 2019, the retail trade index rose a bit in terms of value and also in terms of volume, rising 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

On a year-on-year basis, the value of retail trade rose 0.9 percent in February, while the retail trade index in terms of volume rose 0.3 percent.

Estimates for large scale distribution indicated the first negative figure since September 2018, falling 0.1 percent, while small scale distribution showed the strongest growth since September 2017, increasing 1.6 percent. Online sales rose 17.5 percent when compared with February 2018.

Looking at the value of sales by product category, the most solid growth was seen in Cosmetic and toilet articles and Shoes, leather goods and travel items. The largest fall concerned stationery, books, newspapers and magazines and electric household appliances, audio-video equipment.

At 14:00 GMT the FxWirePro's Hourly Strength Index of Euro was neutral at 10.2911 while the FxWirePro's Hourly Strength Index of US Dollar was neutral at -46.6383 more details on FxWirePro's Currency Strength Index, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex