BRUSSELS (AFP) –
Retailers in the 15 countries using the euro saw demand slip less than expected in September despite the worst financial crisis for generations, official EU data showed on Wednesday.

The volume of retail sales in the eurozone eased 0.2 percent lower in September over one month and fell 1.6 percent over one year, the European Union's Eurostat data agency said.

The result marked a deterioration from August when retail sales rose 0.3 percent over one month and fell 1.5 percent over one year, revised data showed.

However, it nonetheless exceeded economists' forecasts for retail sales to fall 0.3 percent over one month and fall 2.3 percent over one year.

In the 27-nation EU, retail sales were down 0.1 percent in September from August and eased 0.4 percent over 12 months.