In May, retail sales in Germany increased by 0.6% compared to the previous month, according to data from the country’s Federal Statistical Agency (Destatis). Analysts polled by Trading Economics had on average expected an increase of 0.5%.

The figure fell 5.4 per cent in April, the fastest pace in a year.

Food sales in Germany fell 0.6% in May after falling 7.7% in April. The continued decline in sales is due to rising prices restraining consumer demand, Destatis said. Food prices in Germany jumped 11.1 per cent in May.

Non-food sales rose 2.9% last month.

Online sales and mail order sales fell 2.5%.

Retail sales in Germany in May compared to the same month last year fell by 3.6% after a 0.4% decline in April. Experts predicted a 2% decline.