In September 2008 sales in the German retail sale were up by 4.1% (in nominal terms) and by 1.2% (in real terms) as compared to September 2007. However, there was one more selling day in September this year than in September last year. From August to September this year, however, turnover fell by 2.5% and 2.3% in nominal and real terms respectively. This was revealed by preliminary calculations by the Federal Statistical Office.
Here the findings in more detail: sales in foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco goods increased by 3.8% (nominally) and fell by 0.7% (in real terms) in September this year as compared to September 2007. With regard to supermarkets, department stores and consumer markets the respective changes were +4.2% and -0.4%. In the specialized trade in foodstuffs, however, the changes were -0.1% and -4.1%.
In the non-food retail sale trade, turnover increased by +4.3% and by +2.5% (in real terms). In all the other fields of retail trade the changes were -2.0% and -3.0% in nominal and real terms respectively.
Over the first nine months of 2008 the German retail trade generated +2.4% (nominally) and -0.5% (really) than in the same period last year. 