According to provisional data from Destatis, turnover in retail trade in March 2019 was in real terms 2.1% and in nominal terms 1.7% smaller than in March 2018. Economists had expected a 2.9% increase in real terms. The number of days open for sale was 26 in March 2019 and in March 2018. The Easter holiday situation had a negative impact on March 2019 sales when compared to March 2018.

Compared with the previous year, turnover in retail trade was in the first three months of 2019 in real terms 1.7% and in nominal terms 2.3% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

When adjusted for calendar and seasonal variations, the March turnover was in real terms 0.2% and in nominal terms 0.5% lower than in February 2019.