retail sales in the eurozone rose in november partly offsetting octobers fall even as household budgets are squeezed by high inflation and rising interest rates retail sales volumes rose 08 in november after declining by a revised 15 in october according to data from the european unions statistics agency eurostat released friday the reading beats the 05 increase forecast by economists in a poll by the wall street journal on an annual basis the volume of retail sales was down 28 in november eurostat said retail sales and more broadly consumer spending arent expected to rebound significantly in the shortterm as consumer confidence remains low and inflation continues to erode households purchasing power however the outlook could improve somewhat if energy prices remain low and households real incomes dont fall as much as anticipated economists say