Retail sales in South Africa surged by 4.2% year-on-year in January 2026, the most in six months, following a downwardly revised 2.5% increase in the prior month. Figures came in above market forecasts of a 2.5% rise. The largest contributors to the increase were retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather goods, which rose 9.9% and added 1.6 percentage points; all ‘other’ retailers, up 10.3% and contributing 1.2 points; and general dealers, which increased 1.7%, adding 0.7 points. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade went up 0.9%, after a revised 0.5% fall in the prior month.