Retail sales

South African retail sales.

Statistics South Africa’s monthly survey of retail trade sales: how much more (or less) South Africans spent in shops than in the same month a year earlier, after inflation.

Latest reading
+3.4%
Jul, released 16 Sept 2026
Before that
+1.6%
Jun
Next release
21 Oct 2026
for Aug

Retail sales grew 3.4% year on year in July, according to Stats SA (released 16 Sept 2026).

Retail salesThe last 15 months

  1. +4.2%May
  2. +1.6%Jun
  3. +5.6%Jul
  4. +2.3%Aug
  5. +3.1%Sep
  6. +2.9%Oct
  7. +3.5%Nov
  8. +2.6%Dec
  9. +4.2%Jan
  10. +1.6%Feb
  11. +2.6%Mar
  12. +1.3%Apr
  13. +2.3%May
  14. +1.6%Jun
  15. +3.4%Jul
PeriodReleasedReading
Jul16 Sept 2026+3.4%
Jun19 Aug 2026+1.6%
May22 Jul 2026+2.3%
Apr17 Jun 2026+1.3%
Mar20 May 2026+2.6%
Feb22 Apr 2026+1.6%
Jan18 Mar 2026+4.2%
Dec18 Feb 2026+2.6%
Nov21 Jan 2026+3.5%
Oct10 Dec 2025+2.9%
Sep19 Nov 2025+3.1%
Aug15 Oct 2025+2.3%
Jul17 Sept 2025+5.6%
Jun13 Aug 2025+1.6%
May16 Jul 2025+4.2%

What it is

Statistics South Africa’s monthly survey of retail trade sales: how much more (or less) South Africans spent in shops than in the same month a year earlier, after inflation.

Published by
Statistics South Africa
How often
Monthly

Why it matters for commerce

It is the most direct read on the tills of every listed retailer. Faster growth usually means a better trading update to come; a slowdown shows up in results a few months later.

Shares it moves most

QuestionsGood to know.

  • The change in the value of retail trade sales compared with the same month a year earlier, at constant prices, so it shows the change in volumes rather than just prices.

  • Stats SA publishes retail trade sales monthly, around six to seven weeks after the month ends. The next date is shown at the top of this page.

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