German retail sales were up 0.5% in real terms in March compared with March 2007 and down 0.7% from February this year, according to preliminary figures from the Federal Statistics Office.
Analysts polled by AFX News had forecast a 0.9% rise in retail sales month-on-month.
The Statistics Office also revised upward retail sales in February, saying they rose 1.0% month-on-month. Its preliminary estimate released last month had an increase of 0.9%.