Malaysia Retail Sales Growth Accelerates to 8-Month High

Retail sales in Malaysia grew 7.5% year-on-year in March 2026, easing from a 7.7% increase in the previous month, which had marked the fastest growth since January 2025. The slower growth was mainly due to softer increases in retail sales at specialised stores (8.1% vs 10.4% in February), household equipment stores (4.1% vs 4.3%), and recreational goods in specialised stores (2.7% vs 3.0%). Meanwhile, sales growth accelerated for other goods in specialised stores (8.2% vs 7.4%), information and communication equipment in specialised stores (5.9% vs 4.1%), as well as food, beverages, and tobacco in specialised stores (7.9% vs 7.7%). On a monthly basis, retail sales rose by 2.6% in March, rebounding from an upwardly revised 0.3% fall in February, marking the fastest growth since March 2025.

Retail sales in Malaysia increased by 7.7% year-on-year in February 2026, accelerating from a 6.1% rise in the previous month. This was the biggest gain since January 2025, driven mainly by faster increases in retail sales at non-specialised stores (10.4% vs 7.9% in January), other goods in specialised stores (7.4% vs 5.4%), and household equipment in specialised stores (4.3% vs 3.3%). Sales also went up for information and communication equipment in specialised stores (4.1% vs 3.9%), as well as food, beverages, and tobacco in specialised stores (7.7% vs 5.6%). Meanwhile, growth slowed in sales of cultural and recreational goods in specialised stores (3.0% vs 4.2%). On a monthly basis, retail sales decreased by 0.2% in February, following a 0.3% fall in January.

Retail sales in Malaysia rose by 6.1% year-on-year in January 2026, slowing from a 6.9% increase in the previous month. This was the weakest growth since August 2025 due to softer sales across most groups, particularly non-specialised stores (7.9% vs 9.3% in December), other goods in specialised stores (5.4% vs 5.6%), automotive fuel in specialised stores (7.0% vs 7.4%), information and communication equipment in specialised stores (3.9% vs 5.9%), and food, beverages, and tobacco in specialised stores (5.6% vs 6.5%). Meanwhile, sales growth accelerated slightly for other household equipment in specialised stores (3.3% vs 3.1%) and cultural and recreational goods in specialised stores (4.2% vs 3.9%). On a monthly basis, retail sales fell by 0.3% in January, reversing a 2.0% increase in December.