German DIY stores 4 per cent below previous year's level

Sales at DIY and garden stores in Germany were 4.0 per cent below the same period last year in the first quarter, or 3.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis. However, the comparison with the previous year is only of limited significance because the first quarter was a good one for the industry, especially in March 2024, when sales rose by 4.4 per cent. This was pointed out by the German trade association (BHB), which published the figures from the GfK Total Store Report. In contrast, March 2025 saw a decline of 2.2 per cent. Total sales from January to March 2025 amounted to EUR 4.57 bn.

“We cannot really be satisfied with a decline, but we are currently seeing that sales are already developing significantly better again,” said BHB managing director Peter Wüst, commenting on the current situation. He also reported positive signs in April with a like-for-like increase of 3.3 per cent. Many…