Retailing: Business Situation Improves

After last month’s decline, the business climate indicator for retailing rose again, but remained below the figure for the same month last year. Retailers were more satisfied with their current business situation. Their assessment of the business outlook was also less pessimistic than in March. Price expectations stabilised. In view of higher inventory overhangs the retailers surveyed downwardly revised their order plans. However, they plan to moderately recruit more staff. Consumption-relevant turnover in retailing totalled 548 billion euros in 2017, according to figures released by the German Federal Statistics Office. This accounted for 33.5% of private consumption.