German retail sales plunge in July, signalling weak start to Q3

German retail sales fell by far more than expected in July after two months of sharp increases, data showed on Wednesday, in a first sign that a consumer-driven recovery in Europe’s largest economy might be loosing some steam in the third quarter.

The Federal Statistics Office said retail sales dropped 5.1% on the month in real terms after a revised jump of 4.5% in June and an increase of 4.6% in May. The July reading missed a Reuters forecast for a fall of 0.9%.

Photo: epa07208321 A woman walks on the Kurfuerstendamm street with KaDeWe shopping bags in Berlin, Germany. EPA-EFE/HAYOUNG JEON

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