South Africa’s retail sector lost some momentum in April 2026, with year-over-year sales growth easing to 1.3%, down from a revised 2.5% increase in March 2026. The latest figures, updated on 17 June 2026, indicate a moderation in consumer spending after a comparatively stronger performance in the previous month.
The data is based on a year-over-year comparison, measuring April’s retail sales against those recorded in April a year earlier. Similarly, March’s 2.5% reading reflected the change versus March of the previous year. The slowdown in April suggests that while retail activity is still expanding, the pace of growth in consumer demand has cooled compared with early 2026. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming releases to determine whether this is a temporary pause or the start of a more sustained softening in household spending.
