German DIY stores notch up further growth in spite of crisis talk

The gross sales of the 25 biggest German DIY store operators rose in 2004 by around 4.5 per cent to € 24.029 bn. The figure includes both domestic and foreign sales. A new peak was also attained by the retail areas of the 25 German DIY groups with the largest turnover; these grew in 2004 (nationally and internationally) by around 3 per cent to 15 573 mio m2. For the first time in more than ten years, sales per square metre of retail space also increased, with the sector achieving a value here of € 1 543 in 2004 (2003: € 1 525), almost equalling the value for 2000 (€ 1 544).
The complete industry figures will be published by Dähne Verlag in the Statistics Supplement to the April issue of the diy trade journal.