FX.co ★ South Africa Retail Sales Rise at Faster Pace

In January 2025, retail sales in South Africa experienced a 7% increase compared to the same month the previous year, building on an upwardly revised 3.2% gain in December 2024. The sectors contributing most significantly to this growth included retailers specializing in textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather goods, which saw a 10.1% increase. This was followed by the household furniture, appliances, and equipment sector with an 8.5% rise, general dealers with an 8.4% increase, specialized food, beverages, and tobacco stores with a 7.3% growth, and pharmaceuticals, medical goods, cosmetics, and toiletries with a 7.2% uplift. Additionally, on a seasonally adjusted basis, retail trade grew by 1.2% in January 2025, recovering from an upwardly revised 0.4% decline in the previous month, and reached its highest point since October 2024.