German retail sales unexpectedly decline in August

ISTANBUL

Retail sales in Germany dropped 0.2% from a month ago in August against market expectations, according to official data released on Tuesday.

The decline came after a 0.5% monthly fall in July, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) data said.

The market expected that the monthly real (price-adjusted) turnover of retail enterprises would rise 0.6% on a monthly basis in August.

Food sales rose 0.6% in August month-on-month, while non-food retail sales dropped 1%.

On a yearly basis, the retail sales increased 1.8% in August.

Food sales declined 0.6% year-on-year, while non-food sales climbed 3.2% in the same period.

In e-commerce and mail orders, retail sales recorded a monthly decline of 2%, while posting a yearly rise of 7.4% in August.