Retail sales drop by less than a quarter in April

Greek retail sales by volume fell 24.8 percent in April compared to the same month a year ago after a downwardly revised 2.4 percent decline in March, statistics service ELSTAT said yesterday. Retail sales were led lower by books and stationary, automotive fuel, food, beverages and tobacco, the data showed. Greece’s economy is expected to contract by up to 10 percent this year, according to government estimates, as the coronavirus pandemic brought economic activity to a near standstill. The government started to gradually lift lockdown measures on May 4.