The chart illustrates the retail trade volume growth rates across various product groups in the EU for March and April 2020, highlighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavior. Notably, the textiles sector experienced a dramatic decline in March, with a 54.1% drop, followed by a partial recovery in April, reducing the decline to 21.2%. Food sales showed resilience, with a slight increase in March (4.9%) but a subsequent decrease in April (-5.9%). Non-food items, including health products, saw significant declines, with health products dropping by 8.9% in April after a modest increase in March. The automotive fuel sector faced consistent declines, with a 23.5% drop in March and a further decrease to 25.0% in April. Electrical goods and furniture also suffered, with a notable 24.4% decline in March, slightly improving to a 6.5% decline in April. The data underscores the varied impact of the pandemic across different sectors, with essential goods like food showing relative stability, while non-essential items faced severe downturns. This pattern reflects the shift in consumer priorities and restrictions during the early months of the pandemic.
