German Retail Sales Rise on World Cup Spending (Update2) (Bloomberg.com)
July 31 (Bloomberg) — German retail sales rose more than expected in June as World Cup fever gripped the nation and households brought forward spending to avoid a tax increase next year.

German Retail Sales Rise on World Cup Spending (Update3) (Bloomberg.com)
July 31 (Bloomberg) — German retail sales rose more than expected in June as World Cup fever gripped the nation and households brought forward purchases to avoid a tax increase.

German retail sales up in June thanks to World Cup effect (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Retail sales in Germany rose in June, largely as a result of the positive effects on consumer spending of the World Cup soccer championships, data showed.

S.Africa to upgrade weak transport for World Cup (Reuters via Yahoo!7 Sports)
CAPE TOWN, July 30 (Reuters) - South Africa is to spend 3 billion rand ($431.9 million) on improving its sagging public transport system ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, President Thabo Mbeki said on Sunday.