Preliminary data released by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) indicates a slight contraction in retail sales during August 2025 compared to July 2025. Adjusted for seasonal and calendar variations, real retail sales declined by 0.2 percent, while nominal sales increased marginally by 0.1 percent.
When compared to August 2024, real retail sales experienced a significant rise of 1.8 percent, while nominal sales increased by a more substantial 3.2 percent. Previously reported figures for July 2025 have been revised; the month now shows a real sales decline of 0.5 percent (previously -1.5 percent) and a nominal decline of 0.1 percent (previously -1.0 percent).
Sales within the food retail sector demonstrated resilience, with a real increase of 0.6 percent and a nominal increase of 1.1 percent in August 2025 compared to the previous month. However, year-on-year, food retail sales registered a slight real decrease of 0.6 percent, alongside a nominal increase of 2.4 percent.
Non-food retail experienced a downturn, with a real decline of 1.0 percent and a nominal decrease of 1.3 percent in August 2025 when contrasted with July 2025. Nevertheless, non-food retail sales saw considerable growth compared to August 2024, with real sales rising by 3.2 percent and nominal sales climbing by 3.8 percent.
The online and mail-order retail sector recorded a real decrease of 2.0 percent and a nominal decrease of 2.2 percent month-on-month. Conversely, online retail sales registered a robust real increase of 7.4 percent and a nominal increase of 7.8 percent when viewed year-on-year, according to Destatis.
