Germany's retail sector has been hit hard as consumers remain on a buyer's strike. Retail sales unexpectedly fell by 0.8% in real terms in September, following a 1.1% decline in August. These figures come as a shock to analysts who had anticipated a 0.5% growth for the month.

On an annual basis, the situation is even grimmer, with retail sales slumping by 4.6% compared to the previous year's 1.9% decrease, a significant departure from the consensus estimate of a 3.4% fall. This decline has raised concerns about the country's economic health and the factors contributing to this buyer's strike