Following yesterday's rather disappointing retail sales data release, Markit's Retail PMI data (released today) were not very inspiring either:
While Germany managed to register marginal growth, the rest of the region's major economies remain below 50, indicating continued contraction:
Employment fell for the first time since May:
And prices paid remain subdued, reaching an average of 60-month lows on a individual country basis:
Actual sales versus expected sales rebounded somewhat but remains at very low levels while gross margins continue to shrink: