Retail sales rose slightly by 0.3% month-on-month in both the eurozone and EU in August, as food sales fell, according to the Eurostat on Wednesday.

Internet and mail-order sales bounced back in August following a decline in July, up 9% in eurozone and 7.7% in EU.

As retail trade for food, drinks and tobacco slipped by 1.7% in euro area and 1.5% in EU27, the main reading came lower than market expectation.

Among member states for which data is available, Malta (2.7%), Ireland (2.5%) and Slovakia (2.0%) posted the largest rise, while Denmark (minus 1.4%) and Estonia and France (both minus 1.2%) saw the largest declines during the same period.

"In August 2021 compared with August 2020, the calendar adjusted volume of retail trade remained stable in the euro area and increased by 1.1% in the EU," Eurostat said.

The eurozone/euro area, or EA19, represents member states that use the bloc's single currency -- the euro -- while the EU27 includes all of its member countries./aa