Retail sales in January down 2.3%

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The retail sector is an important indicator of consumer spending which drives growth in the economy.

According to Statistics SA, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1.2% month on month in January 2017 followed a decrease of 2.5% in December 2016.

Investec economist Kamilla Kaplan said: "Retail sales growth is likely to remain muted for as long as consumer confidence is persistently depressed and if credit extension rates remain weak."

The main negative contributors were general dealers, which contributed 1.2 percentage points to the decline, and retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods, which contributed one percentage point to the decline.

Despite the decrease, retail trade sales increased by 0.7% in the three months to end-January 2017 compared with the year-earlier period. Positive contributors to the increase were retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods.

Source: BDpro