Malaysia Retail Sales Growth Picks Up Slightly in August

Retail sales in Malaysia grew 6.5% year-on-year in August 2026, following a 6.4% rise in July, which marked the softest growth since April. Sales increased mainly in non-specialised stores (7.5% vs 7.2%), other household equipment in specialised stores (3.5% vs 3.1%), and automotive fuel in specialised stores (8.9% vs 7.5%). These gains, however, were partly offset by a slowdown in sales of other goods in specialised stores (6.9% vs 7.6%), information and communication equipment in specialised stores (4.0% vs 4.3%), and food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (6.1% vs 6.4%). On a monthly basis, retail sales rose 0.5%, rebounding from a 1.0% drop in July. Meanwhile, wholesale trade growth accelerated to a three-month high of 16.5% from 11.7% in July, as did motor vehicle sales growth, which rose to 10.5% from 9.0%.

Retail sales in Malaysia increased 6.4% year-on-year in July 2026, easing from a 6.6% rise in the previous month. It marked the softest pace of growth since April, amid slower sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores (7.5% vs 10.8% in June), information and communication equipment in specialised stores (4.3% vs 4.7%), other household equipment in specialised stores (3.1% vs 3.2%), food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (6.4% vs 6.6%), and cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores (3.3% vs 3.7%). Meanwhile, growth picked up in sales at non-specialised stores (7.2% vs 7%), while sales of other goods in specialised stores rose further (7.6% vs 7%). On a monthly basis, retail sales fell 1%, reversing a 0.2% increase in June. Wholesale trade growth also moderated to a five-month low of 11.7% from 12.4%, while motor vehicle sales slowed sharply to 7.9% from 14.9%.

Retail sales in Malaysia rose 6.6% year-on-year in June 2026, slowing from a 7.2% increase in the previous month. Growth moderated in retail sales at non-specialised stores (7.0% vs 8.2% in May), as well as sales of other household equipment in specialised stores (3.2% vs 3.4%), automotive fuel in specialised stores (10.8% vs 12.8%), and food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (6.6% vs 7.2%). On the other hand, sales grew at a faster pace for other goods in specialised stores (7.0% vs 6.7%) and information and communication equipment in specialised stores (4.7% vs 3.5%). On a monthly basis, retail sales edged up 0.2% in June, after rising 1.3% in the prior month. Meanwhile, growth in wholesale trade also slowed (12.4% vs 18.4%), while sales of motor vehicles rebounded sharply (14.9% vs -2.3%).