Penny Market Rewe

Germany's retail sales are expected to climb by around 1.5 per cent during 2010 when compared with the previous 12 months, the German Retail Federation (HDE) has revealed.

Sales are forecast to increase to some €407bn this year, attributed by the HDE to lower unemployment figures and a recovering economy, Bloomberg reported.

The positive outlook is a result of the record economical expansion experienced in Germany during the second quarter of the year, while unemployment dropped further still in August.

'This isn't much more than a return to normal,' said HDE executive director Stefan Genth at a recent press conference in Dusseldorf.