RIGA — Latvia continues to lead the European Union in level of unemployment and overall decline in retail sales, the latest statistics show.

Eurostat announced on Wednesday that joblessness in Latvia reached 22.9 percent in January, up one-tenth of a percent from December. More frightening was the level of [private_supervisor]youth unemployment in Latvia. According to Eurostat, it was 43.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The second-highest level of unemployment in January for the 27-member block was in Spain at 18.8 percent. Estonian joblessness was 15.5 percent in the fourth quarter (latest data available), while Lithuania’s was 14.6 percent.

Latvia also led the EU in terms of growth of job losses. Over the year the level of unemployment plummeted from 12.3 to 22.9 percent. Europe-wide, the jobless rate was at 9.5 percent. In the eurozone area, the level was 9.9 percent, Eurostat said.

As regards retail, Latvia saw its January sales fall 16 percent annually compared with the same month in 2009, although it was up from December’s numbers. Sales in Lithuania were down 13.6 percent over the same period.

Europe-wide, retail sales increased 1.6 percent in January 2010 compared with the same month last year.

In Lithuania retail sales volume in January jumped 7.1 percent compared with December. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]youth unemployment in Latvia. According to Eurostat, it was 43.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The second-highest level of unemployment in January for the 27-member block was in Spain at 18.8 percent. Estonian joblessness was 15.5 percent in the fourth quarter (latest data available), while Lithuania’s was 14.6 percent.

Latvia also led the EU in terms of growth of job losses. Over the year the level of unemployment plummeted from 12.3 to 22.9 percent. Europe-wide, the jobless rate was at 9.5 percent. In the eurozone area, the level was 9.9 percent, Eurostat said.

As regards retail, Latvia saw its January sales fall 16 percent annually compared with the same month in 2009, although it was up from December’s numbers. Sales in Lithuania were down 13.6 percent over the same period.

Europe-wide, retail sales increased 1.6 percent in January 2010 compared with the same month last year.

In Lithuania retail sales volume in January jumped 7.1 percent compared with December. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]youth unemployment in Latvia. According to Eurostat, it was 43.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The second-highest level of unemployment in January for the 27-member block was in Spain at 18.8 percent. Estonian joblessness was 15.5 percent in the fourth quarter (latest data available), while Lithuania’s was 14.6 percent.

Latvia also led the EU in terms of growth of job losses. Over the year the level of unemployment plummeted from 12.3 to 22.9 percent. Europe-wide, the jobless rate was at 9.5 percent. In the eurozone area, the level was 9.9 percent, Eurostat said.

As regards retail, Latvia saw its January sales fall 16 percent annually compared with the same month in 2009, although it was up from December’s numbers. Sales in Lithuania were down 13.6 percent over the same period.

Europe-wide, retail sales increased 1.6 percent in January 2010 compared with the same month last year.

In Lithuania retail sales volume in January jumped 7.1 percent compared with December. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]youth unemployment in Latvia. According to Eurostat, it was 43.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The second-highest level of unemployment in January for the 27-member block was in Spain at 18.8 percent. Estonian joblessness was 15.5 percent in the fourth quarter (latest data available), while Lithuania’s was 14.6 percent.

Latvia also led the EU in terms of growth of job losses. Over the year the level of unemployment plummeted from 12.3 to 22.9 percent. Europe-wide, the jobless rate was at 9.5 percent. In the eurozone area, the level was 9.9 percent, Eurostat said.

As regards retail, Latvia saw its January sales fall 16 percent annually compared with the same month in 2009, although it was up from December’s numbers. Sales in Lithuania were down 13.6 percent over the same period.

Europe-wide, retail sales increased 1.6 percent in January 2010 compared with the same month last year.

In Lithuania retail sales volume in January jumped 7.1 percent compared with December.[/private_subscription 1 year]

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