Malaysia Retail Sales Growth Hits 13-Month High

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.

Retail sales in Malaysia increased by 6.9% year-on-year in December 2025, accelerating from 6.4% growth in the previous month. This marked the fastest increase since September, amid stronger sales growth across most categories, particularly in non-specialised stores (9.3% vs 8.7% in November), not in stores, stalls or markets (9.1% vs 7.2%), automotive fuel in specialised stores (7.4% vs 6.7%), information and communication equipment in specialised stores (5.9% vs 4.9%), other goods in specialised stores (5.6% vs 5.1%), food, beverages, and tobacco in specialized stores (6.5% vs 6.3%), and household equipment in specialised stores (3.1% vs 3.0%). On a monthly basis, retail activity rose by 2.0% in December, rebounding from a 0.4% fall in November and marking the strongest growth in three months.