German Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall

Germany’s retail sales dropped 0.3% month-on-month in April 2026, matching the pace of a downwardly revised decline in the previous month and outperforming market expectations for a 0.4% fall. The latest reading marked the fourth straight monthly contraction, as heightened uncertainty stemming from the Middle East conflict continued to weigh on consumer sentiment and spending. By category, non-food sales declined 2.2%, while online and mail-order trade shrank 4.7%. In contrast, food sales rose 3.2%, partially offsetting broader weakness. On an annual basis, retail sales slipped 0.2%, following a downwardly revised 0.2% decline in March, indicating that consumer demand remained subdued despite easing inflationary pressures.

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.

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