Spain's retail sales miss expectations, remain flat in February

Spanish seasonally-adjusted retail sales remained unchanged in February, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed on Friday. The unchanged reading compared to a revised 0.1 percent drop a month ago.

Data missed expectations for a 0.9 percent rise. January's 0.1 percent drop which was revised from a previously reported growth of 0.1 percent marked the first time Spanish retail sales shrank after 29 straight months of expansion.

On an unadjusted basis, retail sales fell 3 percent annually, after decreasing 0.2 percent in January. Month-on-month, retail sales increased for the first time in three months. Sales gained 0.2 percent in February, reversing January's 1.2 percent decrease. Food sales grew 0.3 percent, and non-food sales increased 1.1 percent in February.