date:Oct 18, 2013
euro zone economy is returning to life after years in the doldrums. Retail sales in the 17-country bloc rose more than expected in August.
However, the stronger performances at Carrefour and Metro contrast with results earlier this month from Britain's Tesco , where plunging profits in central and eastern Europe blew a new hole in its recovery plan.
Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer by sales behind U.S. group Wal-Mart, said it made third-quarter sales of 21.11 billion euros ($28.4