German retail sales grew in January

German retail sales in January increased by 0.2 percent in calendar and seasonally adjusted terms compared to the previous month, according to preliminary data from Destatis, instead of the expected 0.4 percent increase. Retail sales fell by 0.9 percent in December over the course of a month.

January retail sales were 2.9 percent higher than a year earlier in price, calendar and seasonal adjustments, after a 2.0 percent increase in December.

Retail sales of food products increased by 1.5 percent in January compared to the previous month and a year earlier, calculated at constant prices, seasonally and calendar adjusted terms. Retail sales of non-food products decreased by 0.2 percent compared to the previous month and increased by 3.7 percent over the year.