After climbing for three consecutive months, German retail sales posted a surprise fall in April, data released Friday showed.
Household spending in Europe's biggest economy dropped by 0.9 per cent in April, following a 0.1-per-cent rise in March, dpa quoted the statistics office as reporting.
Data released last week showed the nation's economy expanded quarter on quarter by 0.8 per cent in the first three months of the year, helped along by a pickup in consumer spending.
Year on year, retail sales rose 3.4 per cent in April, as a result cancelling out the 1.1-per-cent annual decrease logged in March, the statistics office said.
The yearly rise in April was more than double the 1.5-per-cent gain forecast by analysts.