WIESBADEN, Germany (AFX) - German wholesale sales in March fell a real 0.6 pct from February and were down a real 2.0 pct from a year earlier, according to preliminary figures released by the Federal Statistics Office.
In nominal terms, wholesale sales were unchanged in March on February and were up 0.9 pct from a year earlier, the office said. The real wholesale sales index fell to 104.5 in March from 105.1 in February and rose from 104.1 in March 2000 (1995 equals 100), it said. The nominal wholesale sales index was at 109.7 in March, unchanged on Febraury, and up from 106.1 in March 2000, it said.
Only two areas achived both real and nominal increases in March compared to a year earlier -- foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco, which were up a nominal 7.2 pct and a real 2.1 pct, and commodity and consumer goods, which were up a nominal 2.7 pct and a real 1.0 pct, the office added.