German retail sales rebound in May

German retail sales increased in May, following falls in previous two months, official data showed on Thursday.

Compared with the previous month, retail sales in Europe's biggest economy grew by 0.9 percent in May, said German federal statistics office Destatis.

In March and April, the sales dropped by 1.2 percent and 0.3 percent respectively.

Monthly retail sales data are typically volatile as they were often revised by statisticians. On a less volatile five-month comparison, German retail sales climbed by 2 percent during the first five months of 2016 from the same period of last year.

The rebound of retail sales suggested that private consumption would continue to drive the economic growth.

German retailers' association HDE has said that it saw the industry on track to reach a 2-percent sales growth this year, as stable labor market, increasing wages and low interest rates would spur households to loosen their purse strings. Endit