The pandemic has brought a lot of gloomy financial news as it has caused uncertainty and huge changes to how we work and shop.

But in Germany booming online sales and the government's stimulus package has led to a predicted 1.5% growth in sales, according to the HDE retail association. It had previously estimated a 4% drop.

"The coronavirus crisis is accelerating the structural transformation in retailing," HDE said, adding that small retailers still needed additional help. The prediction assumes that Germany will not see a second lockdown this winter.

In another reflection of changing consumers habits, Deutsche Bank has announced it will close a fifth of its branches in Germany, Reuters news agency reports. The closures will mainly be in urban places, it said. More customers used online banking instead of going into a branch during the pandemic is behind the decision, it said.