German retail sales unexpectedly fall

(Sharecast News) - Retail sales in Germany unexpectedly fell by their most in five months in November, according to the Federal Statistical Office on Wednesday, as food sales dropped sharply. Retail sales fell by 0.6% over the month, wiping out a 0.3% gain over the preceding two months and surprising economists who had pencilled in an increase of 0.2%.

This was the first decline since August and the steepest fall since May.

Food sales fell 1.9% in November, while non-food sales rose 0.3%, and online and mail-order sales gained 0.9%.

Compared with November 2024, retail sales were up 1.1%, slowing from a revised 1.6% annual gain in October.