Preliminary data released Tuesday by the Statistical Federal Office (Destatis) indicates a slight contraction in Germany’s service sector during May 2025. Calendar- and seasonally-adjusted real turnover in the sector decreased by 0.5 percent compared to April, while nominal turnover fell by 0.4 percent. Year-on-year, real turnover registered a decline of 0.3 percent, contrasting with a nominal increase of 1.9 percent.
The largest real turnover gains compared to the previous month were observed in the fields of liberal, scientific and technical services, experiencing a rise of 1.3 percent. The information and communication sector also performed positively, showing a growth of 0.5 percent.
Conversely, real turnover declined in both the real estate and housing sector, down by 1.2 percent and in transport and warehousing, which saw a decrease of 1.3 percent. The most significant real turnover decrease compared to April 2025 was recorded in other business services, encompassing areas such as the rental of movable goods and labor recruitment, with a drop of 1.7 percent.
