South Africa retail sales growth eases to 2.9% in October
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Industries
South Africa’s retail sales increased 2.9% year on year in October, easing slightly from a revised 3.0% rise in September, according to Statistics South Africa data released on December 10. Seasonally adjusted sales advanced 0.9% month on month, pointing to sustained but decelerating consumer activity entering the key holiday spending period.
Textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods drove the headline growth with a 5.8% year-on-year increase, contributing 1.0 percentage point to the overall figure. All other retailers added 0.6 of a percentage point through matching 5.8% growth, while general dealers and food/specialised stores recorded more modest gains.
The slowdown reflects ongoing power supply disruptions and subdued employment trends constraining broader consumer spending, despite inflation having eased from 2024 peaks.
