German retail sales unexpectedly fall

(Sharecast News) - German retail sales unexpectedly fell in October, according to the Federal Statistical Office on Friday, marking the fifth decline over the past seven months. Retail sales volumes were 0.3% lower last month, reversing a revised 0.3% increase in September and missing the 0.2% increase expected by analysts.

Food sales were 1.2% higher during October, offset by a 0.7% drop in non-food sales and a 0.6% fall in online and mail-order sales.

On a year-on-year basis, however, overall retail sales growth picked up to 0.9% from 0.8% previously.