FX.co ★ German Retail Sales Inch Higher

In December 2025, Germany experienced a modest rise in retail sales, increasing by 0.1% from the previous month. This uptick surpassed market expectations, which had predicted a 0.2% decline, and it corrected a slightly revised 0.5% decrease from November. This points to a cautious yet positive trend in consumer spending as the year drew to a close. The growth in sales was primarily driven by a 2.5% increase in food-related purchases and a 0.7% rise in non-food sales. However, online and mail-order sales saw a decline of 2.3%, highlighting a softer demand in digital platforms. On an annual basis, retail trade grew by 1.5%, up from a revised 1.3% in November, and represented the fastest growth rate in five months. Over the entire year, retail sales were up by 2.7%, indicating a slow but steady recovery despite facing a challenging economic environment.