South Africa Retail Sales YoY2003-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar

South Africa's retail trade advanced 2.7 percent year-on-year in March of 2020, following a downwardly revised 1.9 percent increase in the previous month. It was the sharpest rise in retail activity since April of last year, as the country's strict coronavirus lockdown was introduced only on March 27th. Sales grew mostly for pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics & toiletries (13.9 percent vs -2.1 percent in February) and at general dealers (11.6 percent vs 0.7 percent). Meanwhile, those of food, beverages & tobacco slowed sharply (0.1 percent vs 1.1 percent). On the other hand, sales plunged for textiles, clothing, footwear & leather goods (-14.3 percent vs 1.7 percent) and furnishings (-10 percent vs 5 percent). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales rose 2.3 percent, the most since November of 2017, reversing a downwardly revised 0.3 percent fall in the previous month.

South Africa's retail sales increased 2 percent year-on-year in February of 2020, following an upwardly revised 1.3 percent rise in January and easily beating market expectations of a 1.2 percent gain, as sales advanced faster for all other retailers (8.9 percent vs 4.8 percent in January) and general dealers (1.3 percent vs 0.3 percent). Meanwhile, smaller increases were seen in those of food, beverages & tobacco (1 percent vs 4.7 percent); textiles, clothing, footwear & leather goods (1.5 percent vs 2.1 percent) and household furniture, appliances & equipment (4.7 percent vs 6.4 percent). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales went down 0.4 percent, after a downwardly revised 0.5 percent increase in the prior month.

South Africa's retail sales increased 1.2 percent year-on-year in January of 2020, following an upwardly revised 0.5 percent fall in December and beating market expectations of a 0.3 percent rise. Sales grew faster for household furniture, appliances & equipment (6.2 percent vs 3 percent in December) and food, beverages and tobacco (4.4 percent vs 0.7 percent). In addition, sales recovered for textiles, clothing, footwear & leather goods (2.2 percent vs -0.2 percent); all other retailers (4.2 percent vs -1.3 percent) and general dealers (0.3 percent vs -0.9 percent). Conversely, declines were seen in those of pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics & toiletries (-1.7 percent vs 2.7 percent) and hardware, paint & glass (-4.6 percent vs -3.8 percent). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales went up 0.9 percent, after an upwardly revised 3.2 percent decline in the prior month.

South Africa's retail sales dropped 0.4 percent year-on-year in December 2019, following a 2.6 percent rise in November and against market estimates of a 1.5 percent rise. It was the first decline in retail trade since December 2018, led by general dealers (-0.8 percent vs 3.4 percent in November); hardware, paint and glass (-3.7 percent vs -1.1 percent); all other retailers (-1.7 percent vs 1.2 percent) and textiles, clothing, footwear & leather goods (-0.4 percent vs 2.4 percent). Also, sales of food, beverages & tobacco rose much less (1.1 percent vs 6.7 percent). In contrast, increases were reported for household furniture, appliances & equipment (3.5 percent vs 3.2 percent) and pharmaceuticals, medical goods, cosmetics (2.7 percent vs -1.7 percent). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales slumped 3.1 percent, after a downwardly revised 2 percent increase in the previous month. In 2019 as a whole, retail sales grew 1.2 percent over a year ago.