Press release No. 045 of 1 February 2021
Retail turnover, December 2020 (provisional)
-9.6% on the previous month (in real terms, calendar and seasonally adjusted)
-9.3% on the previous month (in nominal terms, calendar and seasonally adjusted)
+1.5% on the same month a year earlier (in real terms)
+2.6% on the same month a year earlier (in nominal terms)
Annual result 2020 (provisional)
+3.9% in 2020 compared to the previous year in real terms
+5.1% in 2020 compared to the previous year in nominal terms
WIESBADEN – According to provisional data of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), turnover in retail trade in December 2020 was in real terms 9.6% and in nominal terms 9.3% lower than in November 2020 (both adjusted for calendar and seasonal influences). These results can be explained by the second COVID-19 lockdown, which led to a partial retail closure starting on the 16 December 2020.
In December 2020, the turnover in retail trade was in real terms 1.5% and in nominal terms 2.6% larger than in December 2019. The number of days open for sale was 25 in December 2020, whereas only 24 days were open for sale in December 2019.
Compared with the previous year, turnover in retail trade was in the whole year of 2020 in real terms 3.9% and in nominal terms 5.1% higher than in 2019.
Methodological notes
The differing comparative periods must be taken into account in all press releases on short-term indicators. Short-term economic monitoring focuses on comparisons with the previous month or previous quarter. These reflect short-term economic trends. A comparison with the previous year is intended to offer a long-term comparison of levels and is not subject to seasonal fluctuations. Due to strong temporary decreases and increases during the current coronavirus crisis, the results of month-on-month/quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year comparisons may differ considerably. Both of the two perspectives are important: what is the short-term economic trend compared with the previous month/previous quarter, and how far has the catching-up process gone compared with the previous year’s level? In order to provide also a direct comparison with the pre-crisis level, all press releases on short-term indicators available in calendar and seasonally adjusted form will, for the time being, include a comparison with February 2020 or the 4th quarter of 2019.
Crisis Monitor enables comparison between corona crisis and financial and economic crisis
Retail turnover also forms part of the “Crises monitor“ (www.destatis.de/krisenmonitor), by means of which the Federal Statistical Office compares the development of major short-term indicators in the corona crisis and the financial and economic crisis of 2008/2009. The Crises monitor complements the "Corona statistics" webpage, which has provided statistical information on the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
