German Retailers Report Mixed Start to Holiday Shopping Season

Despite some positive trends, cautious consumer spending and uneven sales performance highlight challenges for the retail sector.

The Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE) described the first week of the holiday shopping season as 'throughwachsen' (mixed), with uneven sales across different sectors and regions.
Larger retailers and stores in central urban areas and suburban shopping districts reported relatively better performance compared to smaller businesses.
Sectors such as electronics, books, jewelry, and toys saw stronger sales, while the clothing industry continued to struggle with weak demand.
Retailers noted a significant decline in customer visits, with nearly two-thirds observing lower foot traffic compared to the previous year.
Despite a slow start, many retailers remain optimistic, expecting sales to pick up closer to Christmas, as last-minute shopping trends persist.