German Retail Sales Fall 2.0% in Real Terms in September
WIESBADEN – November 02, 2026 -- German retail sales fell 2.0% in real terms in September 2026 from August on a calendar- and seasonally adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Nominal sales declined 1.5% over the same period.
Year on year, real sales dropped 2.3% against September 2025, while nominal sales rose 1.2%. The gap between real and nominal figures points to price effects in the sector.
August growth revised slightly lower
August retail sales rose 1.2% in real terms from July after revision, down from the preliminary 1.3%. Nominal growth was revised to 1.6% from 1.7%. August sales were 0.3% lower in real terms than a year earlier and 2.8% higher in nominal terms.