Following falling turnover in the wholesale trade business the German retail trade business registered less business activity as well. According to preliminary figures provided by the Federal Statistical Office, the German retail trade business generated 3.7% and 6.3% less turnover in nominal and real terms respectively in March 2008 as compared to March last year. However, there were three working days more in March last year than in March 2008.
As compared to February 2008 turnover remained unchanged in nominal terms and fell by 0.1% in real terms.
Retail trade in foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco goods generated 4.4% and 9.2% more turnover in nominal and real terms respectively in March this year than in March 2007. With regard to super markets, self-service department stores and consumer markets the respective figures were +4.3% and +9.2%. In the specialist retail trade in foodstuffs the respective percentages were -5.8% and -9.1%.
With regard to retail trade in other goods than foodstuffs turnover was also down in March 2008 as compared to 2007 (nominal -3.1%, real -4.3%).Only the retail trade in e.g. books, jewellery etc. generated 0.8% more in real terms than in March 2007 (nominal -0.3%). In all other branches turnover was down both in nominal and real terms on March 2007.
In the first quarter 2008 retail trade in Germany generated +1.3% and -1.2% of turnover in nominal and real terms respectively as compared with the same period in 2007. 