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Germany retail sales slump 3.4% in July
Germany's retail sector experienced a significant downturn in July 2026, with real sales falling by 3.4% compared to the previous month. This represents the sharpest decline since July 2021, contradicting economist forecasts that had predicted a slight increase of 0.4%. The slump was particularly pronounced in petrol station sales, which dropped 9.1% in real terms following the expiration of fuel discounts, and in online retail, which saw a 5.6% decrease.
Economic experts from the Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE) noted that consumer sentiment has reached levels reminiscent of the second COVID-19 lockdown, though without government-mandated closures. Factors contributing to the decline include high energy prices, inflation, and a general reduction in purchasing power.
In the broader business landscape, the German furniture industry also reported a 2.7% decline in revenue for the first half of 2026, with only the kitchen furniture segment showing growth. Additionally, the discount chain Groschen Markt has entered insolvency proceedings, with plans to continue approximately half of its 41 locations under new names, preserving roughly 80 jobs.
Entities
Destatis · Euro Kartensysteme · Germany · Girocard · Groschen Markt · Handelsverband Deutschland · Statistisches Bundesamt · Wirtschaftswoche
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [DISPUTED] Total transactions in 2025 amounted to 8.3 billion. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.tz.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] Girocard reached 4.21 billion transactions in the first half of the year. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.tz.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] The average amount per transaction decreased to 36.12 euros. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.tz.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] The number of transactions in the first half of the year increased by four percent compared to the previous year. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.tz.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] Girocard is expected to be usable for car rentals and hotels starting in spring 2027. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.tz.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] Girocard turnover rose to 151.9 billion euros from 150.7 billion euros in the previous period. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.tz.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] In June, 92 percent of all payment transactions were contactless. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.tz.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Compared to the same month last year, German retail turnover fell by 2.5 percent in real terms and rose by 0.3 percent in nominal terms. radioosnabrueck.de · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Non-food retail turnover fell by 4.8 percent in real terms and 2.5 percent in nominal terms compared to the previous month. radioosnabrueck.de · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Internet and mail-order retail turnover fell by 5.6 percent in real terms and 5.8 percent in nominal terms compared to the previous month. radioosnabrueck.de · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Gas station turnover fell by 9.1 percent in real terms and 1.9 percent in nominal terms compared to the previous month. radioosnabrueck.de · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
- [DISPUTED] German retail turnover in July 2026 fell by 3.4 percent in real terms and 1.7 percent in nominal terms compared to June 2026. radioosnabrueck.de · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de