Retail sales for December come in at 2,6% year-on-year

Retail sales for December undershot expectations, coming in at 2.6% year-on-year.

This follows a revised increase of 3.6% in November.

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released the latest retail figures on Wednesday.

Six of the seven retail groups reported stronger results.

Deputy director for distributive trade statistics Raquel Floris said sales at general dealers drove much of the upward momentum in December, marking the last of the fourth quarter results for 2025.

“Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales rose by 0.8% in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter. Five of the seven retail groups expanded in the fourth quarter, with general dealers the largest positive contributor.”

Standard Bank economist Shireen Darmalingam has also weighed in on the latest retail numbers.

“Indicators such as the rising share of credit-active consumers with no overdue debt support our view that aggregate consumer financial health has improved, although conditions continue to vary across the income spectrum, with some households having experienced a deterioration. That said, the tailwinds supporting consumer spending growth are shifting.”