Indonesia’s retail sales fell 3.7% year-on-year in April 2026, reversing a 3.4% increase in March and marking the first contraction since April 2025. The decline highlighted softer household spending, as higher non-subsidized fuel prices eroded consumers’ purchasing power.
By category, the downturn was broad-based. Sales of clothing dropped more sharply (-7.0% vs -2.4% in March), while purchases of information and communication equipment remained deeply negative (-26.4%, unchanged from March). Sales of food, beverages, and tobacco fell 3.8%, after a 4.7% rise in the previous month, and fuel sales also weakened (-0.9% vs 2.1%). Growth slowed for automotive parts (14.7% vs 15.5%) and recreational goods (0.7% vs 14.8%). In contrast, sales of other household appliances returned to positive territory (0.6% vs -3.5%).
On a monthly basis, retail sales plunged 11.6%, swinging from a 10.3% gain in March and posting the steepest decline since June 2022. Looking ahead, retail activity is expected to remain subdued as households continue to contend with elevated living costs.
