Carrefour warning hits retailers, overshadows data

* Carrefour warns on 2008 earnings, shares drop 10 pct

* UK minister says no direct government aid for retailers

* Official UK, Swiss retail sales data beat expectations

By Mark Potter

LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's retail industry was thrust deeper into the gloom on Thursday following a profit warning from bellwether Carrefour (CARR.PA) and signs from the UK government that the sector can't expect bank-style bailouts.

The DJ Stoxx European retail share index .SXRP dropped as much as 2.3 percent and was the weakest performing sector for much of the morning, despite better-than-expected official retail sales figures from Britain and Switzerland.

Analysts said the data, for November and October respectively, lagged some of the recent downturn in spending and included signs of weakness to come. The 1.5 percent rise in UK retail sales was the lowest annual increase since February 2006.

"It's the Carrefour warning that's the big story," said Daniel Lucht, analyst at retail researchers Verdict.

The French group, the world's second-biggest retailer, said late Wednesday it expected only a slight increase in 2008 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) compared with previous guidance for about 7 percent. [nLI514345] [nLH752930]