Investing.com - Retail sales in the euro zone rose more than expected in April, easing concerns over the region’s economic outlook, official data showed on Thursday.
In a report, Eurostat said retail sales increased by a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in April, compared to expectations for a 0.1% gain. Retail sales increased 0.1% in March, whose figure was revised down from a previously reported gain of 0.3%.
Year-over-year, retail sales in the euro zone rose at an annualized rate of 2.4% in April from a year earlier, easily surpassing expectations for a 1.3% gain and after rising 1% in March.
Following the release of the data, the euro held on to modest gains against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD rising 0.1% to trade at 1.3613.
Meanwhile, European stock markets remained mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 dipped 0.1%, France's CAC 40 added 0.1%, Germany's DAX edged down 0.15%, while London’s FTSE 100 tacked on 0.1%.