In relation to the month-on-month situation, Portugal experienced 1.3 percent growth on March against a figure of 1.4 percent for the Eurozone and 0.5 percent for the 28 member state European Union.

In annualised terms, there were some major swings in retail sales with Romania accounting for a 20.1 percent increase ahead of Luxembourg on 16.7 percent with Poland in third place but back on 6.6 percent . In turn, Belgium, down 2.3 percent , and Germany, down 0.6 percent , recorded the worst results.

In month-on-month terms Denmark led the way with a 4.5 percent pick up in April sales, trailed by Poland and Romania on 3.7 percent and 2.8 percent while sales fell in Finland, Germany and Malta by 1.2 percent , 0.9 percent and 0.1 percent respectively.