German retail sales dip 0.3% in April, beating forecasts despite four-month slump

Germany's retail sales fell 0.3% in April 2026, matching a previous month's decline and better than the expected 0.4% drop.
This marked the fourth consecutive month of decline, influenced by uncertainty from the Middle East conflict affecting consumer confidence.
Non-food sales dropped 2.2%, and online sales decreased 4.7%, while food sales increased by 3.2%.
Yearly, retail sales were down 0.2%, showing weak consumer demand despite lower inflation.
[Germany economy and financial market growth concept, 3D rendering]
Kagenmi/iStock via Getty Images
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