Positive figures for German DIY trade

The building and home improvement retail trade is one of the few segments to show positive growth rates in the annual figures from the Federal Statistical Office. Official statisticians revealed a nominal 2.1 per cent increase in sales (1.7 per cent in real terms) for 2004. Even if the product groups of metal products and paints are included, the figures for the year as a whole remain positive. However, over-the-counter trade fell short of the previous year’s results overall by a nominal -1.3 per cent and -1.1 per cent in real terms.