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.

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.

South Africa’s retail trade rose at a faster 3.5% year-on-year in November 2025, after an upwardly revised 3% advance in October and above market estimates of a 2.5% increase. This signaled the strongest growth in retail activity in four months, mainly on account of general dealers (+2.2%, +1.0 percentage points); all ‘other’ retailers (+8.0%, +0.8 pp); and retailers of pharmaceuticals, medical goods, cosmetics, and toiletries (+10.1%, +0.6 pp). Meanwhile, sales of food, beverages and tobacco continued to fall (-0.8% vs -2.3%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade went up by 0.6%, following an upwardly revised 1% rise in the previous month. Retail trade sales grew by 3.2% in the three months ended November 2025 compared with the three months ended November 2024.