German Retail Sales Rose in February Despite Lockdown

By Maria Martinez

Germany's retail sales increased in February despite the continuing lockdown, the German statistics office said Thursday.

In February, retail sales rose 1.2% month-on-month in real terms, following a 6.5% decline in the previous month due to a partial retail closure that began on Dec. 16. Year-on-year, retail sales declined 9.0% in real terms in February.

In comparison to February 2020, the month before the start of the pandemic in Germany, retail sales fell 5.4%, Destatis says.

Pandemic-related restrictions are still affecting the various retail sectors differently, the statistics office said. While retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco products declined 1.6% year-on-year in February, sales of non-food products declined about 13.8%.

Online sales continued to benefit strongly from the closure of stores, increasing 34.1% year-on-year in February, Destatis says.

Write to Maria Martinez at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-01-21 0336ET