Retail sales in South Africa rose by 1.6% year-on-year in February 2026, following an upwardly revised 4.4% jump in the prior month and missing analysts' forecasts of a 4.8% surge. This marked the weakest growth in retail activity since September 2024, in part due to a sharp slowdown in sales of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3.9% vs 9.7% in January) and hardware, paint and glass (0.1% vs 1.9%). Furthermore, lower sales were recorded for food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-5% vs -6.1%) and general dealers (-0.9% vs 2.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade fell by 1%, after a 0.9% increase in the previous month. Retail trade sales rose by 2.8% in the three months ended February 2026 compared with the three months ended February 2025. source: Statistics South Africa

Retail Sales in South Africa increased 1.60 percent in February of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in South Africa averaged 3.58 percent from 2003 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 87.00 percent in April of 2021 and a record low of -47.60 percent in April of 2020. This page provides - South Africa Retail Sales YoY - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Retail Sales YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Retail Sales in South Africa increased 1.60 percent in February of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in South Africa is expected to be 3.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Retail Sales YoY is projected to trend around 2.30 percent in 2027 and 2.10 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-18 11:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Jan 4.2% 2.5% 2.5% 2.3%
2026-04-22 11:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Feb 1.6% 4.4% 4.8% 3.7%
2026-05-20 11:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Mar 1.6% 1.7%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Prime Overdraft Rate 10.25 10.25 percent Apr 2026
Consumer Confidence -7.00 -9.00 points Mar 2026
Consumer Spending 3277648.94 3240360.44 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 5095069.00 5026603.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Gasoline Prices 1.39 1.20 USD/Liter Apr 2026
Households Debt to GDP 33.50 33.70 percent of GDP Sep 2025
Households Debt to Income 62.50 62.40 percent Dec 2024
Personal Savings -1.40 -1.20 percent Dec 2025
Private Sector Credit YoY 8.50 10.50 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales MoM -1.00 0.90 percent Feb 2026
Retail Sales YoY 1.60 4.40 percent Feb 2026


South Africa Retail Sales YoY
In South Africa, the year-over-year change in Retail sales compares the aggregated sales of retail goods and services during a certain month to the same month a year ago.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1.60 4.40 87.00 -47.60 2003 - 2026 percent Monthly
Constant Prices 2019

News Stream
South Africa Retail Trade Slows, Misses Forecasts
Retail sales in South Africa rose by 1.6% year-on-year in February 2026, following an upwardly revised 4.4% jump in the prior month and missing analysts' forecasts of a 4.8% surge. This marked the weakest growth in retail activity since September 2024, in part due to a sharp slowdown in sales of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3.9% vs 9.7% in January) and hardware, paint and glass (0.1% vs 1.9%). Furthermore, lower sales were recorded for food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-5% vs -6.1%) and general dealers (-0.9% vs 2.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade fell by 1%, after a 0.9% increase in the previous month. Retail trade sales rose by 2.8% in the three months ended February 2026 compared with the three months ended February 2025.
2026-04-22
South Africa Retail Trade Rises More than Anticipated
Retail sales in South Africa surged by 4.2% year-on-year in January 2026, the most in six months, following a downwardly revised 2.5% increase in the prior month. Figures came in above market forecasts of a 2.5% rise. The largest contributors to the increase were retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather goods, which rose 9.9% and added 1.6 percentage points; all ‘other’ retailers, up 10.3% and contributing 1.2 points; and general dealers, which increased 1.7%, adding 0.7 points. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade went up 0.9%, after a revised 0.5% fall in the prior month.
2026-03-18
South Africa Retail Sales Growth Slows in December
Retail sales in South Africa rose by 2.6% year-on-year in December 2025, following an upwardly revised 3.6% surge in the prior month. This marked the slowest growth in retail activity since last August, though overall levels remained modest. The slowdown was particularly evident in sales of pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (1.4% vs 9.8% in November) and textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (0.1% vs 3%). Additionally, spending on food, beverages and tobacco (-5.6% vs 0.2%) declined sharply. Meanwhile, sales growth picked up for household furniture, appliances and equipment (11.5% vs 8.1%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade shrank by 0.4%, the most in four months, after a 0.6% increase in the previous month. In 2025, retail trade sales increased by 3.7% compared with 2024.
2026-02-18