Retail Business Cycle Report

Once a quarter, the Retail Business Cycle Report compiles key economic information for the retail trade and trade as a whole. Ongoing economic monitoring and reporting is highly relevant to provide retailers and the interested public with up-to-date data and analyses. The current report shows that the overall economic situation has recently continued to develop without much momentum. After an improvement in real sales development in the retail sector in April and May 2024, the deterioration in sentiment indicators in June 2024, particularly with regard to the current situation, points to a subdued development again. Although domestic consumer confidence has risen recently, it remains at a low level. The persistently high level of uncertainty among consumers is increasing savings despite a sharp rise in household income, meaning that consumer demand is only likely to increase moderately in 2024.