Overview
- The Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE) predicts a real retail sales growth of just 0.5% for 2025, reflecting ongoing economic challenges.
- A recent survey revealed that nearly half of German retailers expect declining sales this year, citing consumer uncertainty and high energy costs.
- Despite a lackluster outlook, the 2024 holiday season exceeded expectations, with sales rising 1.5% year-over-year to €123.5 billion.
- Online retail saw a 5% real growth in 2024, driven by increased spending from younger consumers and new engagement from older demographics.
- Approximately 5,000 brick-and-mortar stores close annually, yet employment in the retail sector has slightly increased to 3.1 million workers.