Germany's annual retail sales fall 2.7% in March

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - Annual retail sales in Germany declined 2.7% in March, from the same month a year ago, the country's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on Monday.

On a monthly basis, the turnover of retail enterprises was down 0.1% from February, it said.

The market expectation for retail sales was a 6.1% increase on an annual basis and a 0.3% gain on monthly basis.

In February, retail sales increased 7% annually and rose 0.3% on a monthly basis.