Markit Economics released its retail purchasing managers' index (PMI) for Germany on Friday. Germany's retail PMI dropped to 51.0 in April from 54.1 in March.
The driven was driven by a softer growth in buying activity, sales and employment.
"Today's PMI numbers signal a note of caution for German retailers, as growth in sales slowed sharply during the month," an economist at Markit, Oliver Kolodseike, said.