Germany’s retail sales fell 0.3% month-on-month in April 2026, matching the pace of the downwardly revised decline recorded in March and performing slightly better than market expectations for a 0.4% drop. This was the fourth consecutive monthly contraction, as heightened uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict continued to dampen consumer sentiment and restrain spending.
By category, non-food sales decreased by 2.2%, while online and mail-order trade contracted by 4.7%. In contrast, food sales advanced 3.2%, partially offsetting weakness in other segments. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales edged down 0.2%, following a similarly revised 0.2% decline in March, underscoring that consumer demand remains muted despite easing inflationary pressures.
