Euro area Retail Sales decline by 3% in December vs. -0.5% expected

• Retail Sales in the euro area fell sharply in December.
• EUR/USD stays in the positive territory near 1.1460.

Retail Sales in the euro area fell by 3% on a monthly basis in December, the data published by Eurostat showed on Friday. This print missed the market expectation for a decrease of 0.5%. In the EU, Retail Sales contracted by 2.8%. 

"In December 2021 compared with December 2020, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.0% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU," the publication further read. "The annual average level of retail trade for the year 2021, compared with 2020, increased by 5.0% in the euro area and by 5.5% in the EU."

Market reaction

These figures don't seem to be having a noticeable impact on the shared currency's performance against its rivals. As of writing, the EUR/USD pair was up 0.2% on the day at 1.1460.