real sales dropped 0..6 % and nominal sales decreased 0.7 %. Against the same month in 2025, however, the sector saw a rebound, with real sales rising 0.7 % and nominal sales growing 1.6 %, according to provisional figures released by Destatis on Tuesday. The revised January data show a decline from December 2025, with real sales falling 1.1 % (previous provisional estimate: -0.9 %) and nominal sales down 0.1 % (previous provisional estimate: 0.0 %).
Grocery retail performance differed. February’s food‑retail sales were down on January, declining 1.4 % real and 1.9 % nominal after seasonal adjustment. Yet, relative to February 2025, food retail was still higher, with a 0.1 % real increase and a 1.6 % nominal rise.
Non‑food retail turned modestly positive. Both real and nominal sales in February were up 0.7 % from January (adjusted for seasonal effects). Compared with February 2025, non‑food retail sales grew 1.1 % real and 1.7 % nominal.
Internet and mail‑order retail delivered the largest gains. February sales were 0.6 % higher real and 0.7 % higher nominal than in January. When measured against February 2025, the online sector expanded 2.2 % real and 2.4 % nominal.
