April retail sales fell 0.3% month-on-month, beating expectations of a 0.5% decline but remaining weak after a prior 2.0% drop.
German retail sales declined 0.3% in April from the previous month, slightly better than the 0.5% drop economists had forecast. The data follows a sharper 2.0% contraction in March, signaling persistent weakness in consumer spending amid broader economic uncertainty.
Analysts had anticipated a modest rebound after March’s steep decline, but the latest figures suggest subdued demand. The reading adds to concerns over Germany’s economic recovery, with inflation and geopolitical tensions weighing on household confidence.
No immediate market reaction was reported, though the data may reinforce expectations of prolonged economic stagnation in the eurozone’s largest economy.