Germany’s retail sales dropped 2.0% month-over-month in March 2026, significantly missing market expectations for a milder 0.1% decline and deepening from a downwardly revised 0.3% fall in the previous month. This marked the third consecutive monthly contraction and the sharpest decrease since October 2022, as heightened uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict weighed on consumer sentiment and spending. Food sales led the downturn, falling 2.7%, while non-food sales slipped 1.0%. In contrast, online and mail-order trade showed resilience, rising 3.0%. On an annual basis, retail sales also fell 2.0%, swinging from an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in February and undershooting forecasts for a 0.5% gain. source: Federal Statistical Office

Retail Sales in Germany decreased 2 percent in March of 2026 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in Germany averaged 0.06 percent from 1994 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.20 percent in May of 2020 and a record low of -9.70 percent in January of 2021. This page provides the latest reported value for - Germany Retail Sales MoM - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Germany Retail Sales MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Retail Sales in Germany decreased 2 percent in March of 2026 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in Germany is expected to be 0.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Germany Retail Sales MoM is projected to trend around 0.60 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-31 06:00 AM
Retail Sales MoM
Feb -0.6% -1.1% 0.2% 0.5%
2026-04-30 06:00 AM
Retail Sales MoM
Mar -2% -0.3% -0.1% -0.3%
2026-06-01 06:00 AM
Retail Sales MoM
Apr -2% 1.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Spending 483.20 483.02 EUR Billion Mar 2026
Disposable Personal Income 673.65 670.87 EUR Billion Mar 2026
Retail Sales MoM -2.00 -0.30 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales YoY -2.00 0.70 percent Mar 2026


Germany Retail Sales MoM
In Germany, the Retail sales report provides an aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a specific time period. In Germany, Retail sales are seasonal, volatile and relatively important to the overall economy.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-2.00 -0.30 11.20 -9.70 1994 - 2026 percent Monthly
Constant Prices, SA

News Stream
German Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall
Germany’s retail sales dropped 2.0% month-over-month in March 2026, significantly missing market expectations for a milder 0.1% decline and deepening from a downwardly revised 0.3% fall in the previous month. This marked the third consecutive monthly contraction and the sharpest decrease since October 2022, as heightened uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict weighed on consumer sentiment and spending. Food sales led the downturn, falling 2.7%, while non-food sales slipped 1.0%. In contrast, online and mail-order trade showed resilience, rising 3.0%. On an annual basis, retail sales also fell 2.0%, swinging from an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in February and undershooting forecasts for a 0.5% gain.
2026-04-30
German Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall
Germany’s retail sales dropped 0.6% month-over-month in February 2026, missing market expectations for a 0.2% rise and extending a revised 1.1% drop in the previous month, as still-elevated inflation and cautious consumer sentiment weighed on spending. The decline was driven by a 1.4% fall in food sales. In contrast, non-food sales rose 0.7%, while online and mail-order trade increased 0.6%, suggesting some resilience in discretionary and digital spending. On an annual basis, retail trade grew 0.7%, easing from a downwardly revised 1.0% gain in January
2026-03-31
German Retail Sales Fall More Than Expected
Germany’s retail sales shrank 0.9% month-on-month in January 2026, missing market expectations for a milder 0.2% drop and shifting from an upwardly revised 1.2% rise in the previous month. The pullback was largely driven by a 1.7% decline in non-food sales, suggesting households turned more cautious at the start of the year. Food sales were flat, indicating stable demand for essentials, while online and mail-order sales increased 2.5%, pointing to continued strength in e-commerce despite broader weakness. On an annual basis, retail trade rose 1.2%, easing from an upwardly revised 2.5% gain in December, which had marked the strongest pace in five months. In 2025, retail sales were up 2.7%.
2026-03-02