FX.co ★ South Africa Retail Trade Rises More than Expected

In October 2025, South Africa experienced a 2.9% increase in retail trade compared to the previous year, surpassing the market's anticipated growth rate of 2.3%. This follows a downward revision of the September growth rate from 3%. The primary sectors contributing to this rise included textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather goods, which saw a 5.8% increase and added 1 percentage point to the overall growth. The category labeled as 'other' retailers increased by 7.2% and contributed 0.7 percentage points, while household furniture, appliances, and equipment surged by 13.0%, adding 0.5 percentage points. Additionally, the sector encompassing hardware, paint, and glass grew by 5.8%, equally contributing 0.5 percentage points. On a month-over-month basis, when adjusted for seasonal variations, retail trade increased by 0.9% in October, following a revised decrease of 0.1% in the preceding month.