Dramatic surge in June retail sales observed in Germany
In a positive turn of events for the retail industry, Germany saw a significant increase in retail sales in June 2025. According to preliminary results announced by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), retail sales rose by 1.0% in real terms and 0.8% in nominal terms compared to May 2025.
The growth was particularly noteworthy in the online and mail-order sector, with sales increasing by 9.0% in real terms and 8.5% in nominal terms compared to the previous month. Compared to the same month last year (June 2024), online and mail-order sales surged by 20.4% in real terms and 19.9% in nominal terms.
The non-food retail sector also experienced an increase, with sales rising by 1.8% in real terms and 1.4% in nominal terms compared to June 2025. Compared to the same month last year, sales in the non-food retail sector increased by 7.4% in real terms and 7.7% in nominal terms.
Sales in the food retail sector also saw a slight increase, with sales rising by 0.3% in real terms and 0.3% in nominal terms compared to the previous month. Compared to June 2024, sales in the food retail sector increased by 0.9% in real terms and 3.3% in nominal terms.
The exact reasons for the retail sales increase in June 2025 were not specified. However, several key factors are believed to have contributed to this growth. These include strong growth in online and mail-order retail, consumer resilience underpinned by stable inflation and real wage growth, expansion in non-food retail categories, and strategic logistical investments.
The robust e-commerce expansion, stable economic conditions helping consumer confidence, and strategic logistical investments are said to have driven a robust rebound in retail sales, especially fueled by online and mail-order growth. Despite a decline in retail employment, e-commerce growth offset closures of physical stores, supported by substantial investment in logistics infrastructure to serve online retail.
The retail sales figures for May 2025 were revised from the preliminary results, with sales decreasing by 0.6% in real terms and 0.1% in nominal terms compared to May 2025 (revised results).
[1] Destatis. (2025). Retail Sales in Germany Increase in June 2025. [Online] Available at: https://www.destatis.de/EN/PressService/PressReleases/pressreleasearchiv/2025/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung_retail_sales_june_2025.html
[2] Statista. (2025). Retail Sales in Germany June 2025. [Online] Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1100725/german-retail-sales-monthly/
[3] European Central Bank. (2025). Inflation Rate in Germany June 2025. [Online] Available at: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/euroarea/inflation/hicp/html/index.en.html
[4] Kantar. (2025). German Consumer Spending Shifts in June 2025. [Online] Available at: https://www.kantar.com/de/news/deutscher-verbraucherschwerpunkt-verschiebt-sich-im-juni-2025
- The robust e-commerce expansion, fueled by strategic logistical investments, significantly contributed to the growth in Germany's retail finance sector, as evidenced by the 9.0% increase in online and mail-order sales in June 2025.
- The strength of the retail finance sector in Germany was also supported by stable economic conditions, which boosted consumer confidence, as indicated by the inflation rate and real wage growth during the same period.
