Germany's retail sales slump 5.4% month-on-month in April, biggest fall in year

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - Retail sales in Germany slumped 5.4% month-on-month in April, the biggest drop in a year, according to the country's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Wednesday.

The figure is worse than market expectations of a 0.2% fall, with the rising energy and food prices seen as main drivers of the drop.

Food sales diminished at a record 7.7%, while non-food sales went down 4.4%.

Meanwhile, online sales and mail-order retailing rose 5.4%.

Annually, the retail trade in April recorded a 0.4% decrease in real terms.