Retail sales in Germany declined by an adjusted 3.1% last year compared with 2022, according to an initial estimate from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) published on Friday. Without adjustment for inflation, the decline came in at 2.4%. The decline on the year in real terms was the second in a row. Presenting provisional figures for November 2023, Destatis said turnover was down 2.4% in real terms on the figure for November 2022. It attributed the fall to weak demand in Christmas trade, which many retailers had brought forward by means of special offers, such as Black Friday. The nom…