German retail sales edge higher in August

German retail sales edged higher last month if changes in prices are not taken into account.

According to the Federal Office of Statistics, in seasonal and calendar adjusted terms, retail sales rose at a month-on-month pace of 0.1% in August (consensus: -1.0%).

In comparison to the year earlier period they were 5.4% higher.

However, once price changes are taken into consideration sales were in fact 1.3% lower on the month and by 4.3% in annual terms.