Retail sales in South Korea edged up by 0.1% month-on-month in May 2026, rebounding slightly from a downwardly revised 3.5% drop in the previous month, which had marked the steepest decline since July 2020. The modest recovery was largely driven by higher sales of vehicle fuel and cosmetics. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales increased by 1.7% in May, following a 1.6% rise in the preceding period. As a key gauge of private consumption, the figures indicate that household spending regained some momentum in May, though the modest monthly increase suggests consumer demand remained relatively subdued. source: Statistics Korea

Retail Sales in South Korea increased 0.10 percent in May of 2026 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in South Korea averaged 0.25 percent from 1995 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 5.50 percent in December of 1995 and a record low of -12.40 percent in January of 1998. This page provides the latest reported value for - South Korea Retail Sales MoM - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. South Korea Retail Sales MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Retail Sales in South Korea increased 0.10 percent in May of 2026 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in South Korea is expected to be -0.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea Retail Sales MoM is projected to trend around 0.50 percent in 2027 and 0.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-28 11:00 PM
Retail Sales MoM
Apr -3.6% 1.9% 0.4%
2026-06-29 11:00 PM
Retail Sales MoM
May 0.1% -3.5% 2.0%
2026-07-30 11:00 PM
Retail Sales MoM
Jun 0.1% 0.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bank Lending Rate 4.19 4.20 percent May 2026
Consumer Confidence 106.60 106.10 points Jun 2026
Consumer Credit 1993110.80 1979088.40 KRW Billion Mar 2026
Consumer Spending 281899.10 280610.30 KRW Billion Mar 2026
Disposable Personal Income 2588759.30 2438258.30 KRW Billion Dec 2024
Economic Optimism Index 96.80 97.50 points Jun 2026
Gasoline Prices 1.30 1.34 USD/Liter Jun 2026
Households Debt to GDP 88.60 89.40 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Personal Savings 41.70 36.00 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales MoM 0.10 -3.50 percent May 2026
Retail Sales YoY 1.70 1.60 percent May 2026


South Korea Retail Sales MoM
In South Korea, the Retail sales report provides an aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a specific time period. In South Korea, Retail sales are seasonal, volatile and relatively important to the overall economy.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
0.10 -3.50 5.50 -12.40 1995 - 2026 percent Monthly
2020=100, SA

News Stream
South Korea Retail Sales Edge Up in May
Retail sales in South Korea edged up by 0.1% month-on-month in May 2026, rebounding slightly from a downwardly revised 3.5% drop in the previous month, which had marked the steepest decline since July 2020. The modest recovery was largely driven by higher sales of vehicle fuel and cosmetics. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales increased by 1.7% in May, following a 1.6% rise in the preceding period. As a key gauge of private consumption, the figures indicate that household spending regained some momentum in May, though the modest monthly increase suggests consumer demand remained relatively subdued.
2026-06-29
South Korea Retail Sales Drop the Most Since 2020
Retail sales in South Korea fell 3.6% month-on-month in April 2026, reversing an upwardly revised 1.9% rise in the previous month. It marked the steepest decline since July 2020, as sales of nondurable goods, such as gasoline, fell 1.1%. Additionally, sales growth in consumer durables slowed sharply to 1.6% in April from a 15.2% surge in March. Sales of semidurable goods, such as clothing, remained unchanged from a month earlier, while sales of durable goods, including computers, dropped 11.1%. By contrast, sales in the information and telecommunications segment surged 4.3%. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales increased 1.6% in April, slowing sharply from 5.0% growth in the preceding period, which was the strongest since January 2022.
2026-05-28
South Korea Retail Sales Rebound in March
Retail sales in South Korea rose by 1.8% month-on-month in March 2026, rebounding from a revised 0.3% fall in the previous month. The recovery was largely driven by increased sales of consumer durable goods, particularly communication devices, computers and home appliances. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales grew by 5% in March, the sharpest since January 2022 and accelerating from a 4.3% rise in the preceding period. As a key gauge of private consumption, the data signals a renewed pickup in household spending momentum toward the end of first quarter, reversing February’s weakness and pointing to firmer near-term domestic demand.
2026-04-29