German retail sales index, real, adjusted
German retail sales index, real, adjusted stood at 99.9 in Aug 2026, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Retail sales table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1950 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Retail sales table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally and calendar adjusted | |||||||||||
| Constant prices, 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 99.9 | 98.6 | 101.9 | 101.8 | 100.8 | 101.2 | 101.1 | 101.4 | 101.2 | 100.7 | |
| Current prices, flows, 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 121.9 | 119.9 | 121.6 | 121.9 | 120.8 | 120.9 | 120.2 | 120.5 | 119.8 | 119.4 |
Understanding german retail sales index, real, adjusted
Deflated transaction volumes across the general retail sector form the basis of this indicator, explicitly stripping out the motor vehicle and motorcycle trade. By applying constant prices, the series measures the actual quantity of goods changing hands, neutralizing the impact of inflation. It aggregates specialized and non-specialized stores, market stalls, and online retailers. This real-terms approach distinguishes it from nominal variants, isolating shifts in consumption habits rather than alterations in the cost of merchandise.
Applying both seasonal and calendar adjustments filters out predictable events like the December holiday shopping cycle and varying numbers of weekends per month. Evaluating sequential period-on-period performance using these adjusted figures is recommended for tracking the immediate trajectory of consumer demand. The metric remains subject to routine revisions as late-reporting retailers submit their actual returns, replacing earlier statistical imputations. Discrepancies often emerge when comparing these constant-price figures with consumer sentiment surveys, as actual purchasing behavior can lag or precede shifts in household confidence.
Frequently asked questions
- Are vehicle purchases reflected in this real retail index?
- No, the entire category of motor vehicles and motorcycles is excluded from this baseline retail trade measure.
- How does the constant price adjustment alter the reading?
- It removes the effect of price inflation or deflation across the retail sector, leaving a proxy for the physical volume of goods purchased.
- Do e-commerce transactions contribute to this aggregate?
- Yes, sales from pure-play online retailers and the digital operations of traditional brick-and-mortar stores are fully integrated into the totals.