Federal Statistical Office: Dampers for retail in May

Retail in Germany had to cope with a damper in May. The calendar and seasonal sales were 1.2 percent below those from April in the month, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. At unchanged prices (real), the decline would have been 1.6 percent. However, the proceeds were 2.8 percent higher than in May 2024. The increase was 1.6 percent adjusted.

With a month-related decrease in sales of Real 2.2 percent, businesses with non-food were affected somewhat more by consumer alarms than the food markets, whose revenue remained a real 1.3 percent behind April. Even the otherwise strong internet trade recorded a current decline of 1.4 percent. Compared to the same month last year, the Internet and mail order companies increased by 9.3 percent.