German retail sales rose less than forecast in August

According to provisional results of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the real (price-adjusted) turnover of all retail enterprises in Germany was 1.1% higher and the nominal (not price-adjusted) turnover was 1.2% higher, on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, in August 2021 than in July 2021. Economists had expected real turnover to grow by 1.5%.

Retail turnover in real terms was up by 6.0% in August 2021 on the pre-crisis month of February 2020. Compared with August 2020, turnover increased by 0.4% in real terms and by 2.3% in nominal terms in August 2021.

The retail trade of food, beverages and tobacco in August 2021, adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects, grew by 3.4% in real terms compared to July 2021 and was 5.0% below the pre-crisis level of February 2020. The turnover of supermarkets and hypermarkets fell by 2.8% compared to the previous month and was 4.2% below the pre-crisis level. 

By contrast, the retail trade in non-food products experienced an increase in sales in August 2021. Real sales in August 2021 were 4.9% higher on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis than in the previous month and were even 12.2% above the pre-crisis level of February 2020. 

The Internet and mail order business recorded a real, calendar and seasonally adjusted increase in sales of 9.0% compared to the previous month. At 29.8%, sales in this sector remain well above the level of February 2020.