South African retail sales up 0.2% in September

According to data released by Stats SA, retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods grew by 3,0% (contributing 0,5 of a percentage point) while general dealers fell by 0,7% (contributing -0,3 of a percentage point) over this period.

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,5% in September 2019 compared with August 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,1% in August 2019 and 0,2% in July 2019. In the third quarter of 2019, retail trade was flat compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,1% in the third quarter of 2019 compared with the third quarter of 2018. The largest contributors to this increase were: all ‘other’ retailers (4,2% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point); and retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (2,3% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).