THE TAKEAWAY: Euro-zone retail sales decline by 0.3% in February -> Economic growth in Q1 in question -> Euro trading steady
Euro-zone retail sales declined by 0.3% in February, slightly better than the expected 0.4% decline, but the expectations beat was counterbalanced by the revision of January’s rise in retail sales from 1.2% to 0.9%. Retail sales declined 1.4% from February 2012, according to Eurostat.
Food, drinks and tobacco sales fell by 0.1% in February in the Euro-zone, non-food sector sales decreased by 1.1%. Following yesterday’s four year low reported in France’s composite PMI, retail sales were reported to have fallen by 2.2% in France. Germany’s retail sales rose 0.4% in February.
The Euro-zone economy has experienced five straight quarters of economic contraction ending with Q4 2012, and Markit reported in yesterday’s PMI release that it predicts the recession will continue into the recently ended first quarter. Signs of further economic decline are Euro negative.
However, today’s retail sales release did not significantly affect Euro trading in Forex markets. EUR/USD rose above a year-long trend line in yesterday’s rally, and may now see support by the line, currently at 1.2925. Resistance may be provided at the key 1.3000 line.
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EURUSDDaily: April 05, 2013
Chart created by Benjamin Spier using Marketscope 2.0
-- Written by Benjamin Spier, DailyFX Research. Feedback can be sent to bbspier@fxcm.com .
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