German retail sales fell 2% month on month in September, missing expectations for a 0.4% increase. The drop reversed a revised 1.2% rise in August and points to renewed weakness in consumer spending.
German retail sales plunged 2% month on month in September, according to official data released on Monday. The result missed market expectations for a 0.4% increase and reversed a revised 1.2% rise in August.
Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a 0.4% increase, and Reuters described the decline as unexpected. Sales also declined 1.5% in nominal terms for the same period after calendar and seasonal adjustments.
Declines hit food, non-food and online sales
Food retail sales decreased 1.4% in real terms and 1.1% in nominal terms in September compared with August. Year over year, food sales declined 1.1% in real terms and 0.5% in nominal terms.
Non-food retail sales fell 2.4% in real terms and 1.9% in nominal terms against the previous month. Compared with September 2025, non-food sales dropped 2.8% in real terms but rose 1.7% in nominal terms.
Online and mail-order sales declined 2.2% in real terms and 2.0% in nominal terms from August. However, the sector grew 4.4% in real terms and 5.7% in nominal terms compared with September 2025.
Petrol stations show a real-nominal split
Sales at petrol stations dropped 3.4% in real terms in September compared with August, while nominal sales at these locations rose 2.1%. Year over year, petrol station sales fell 9.3% in real terms but increased 16.2% in nominal terms.
The Federal Statistical Office also replaced its existing sample of reporting entities with a new sample for September 2026. It applied the new methodology retroactively to January 2026.
Sources: Investing.com, Investing.com (Reuters)
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