Retail sales in South Africa climbed by 2.6% year-on-year in March 2026, following a 1.6% increase in February and slightly above analysts' forecasts of a 2.5% rise. The key contributors were general dealers (1.7% vs -1.1% in February) and all other retailers (7.1% vs 9.9%). Higher sales were also recorded for household furniture, appliances and equipment (11.3% vs 8.8%); pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5.4% vs 6.4%); and textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (4% vs 4.2%). Conversely, sales declined for food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-5.6% vs -5.3%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade went up by 0.1%, after a revised 1.1% decline in the prior month. Retail trade sales grew by 2.8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter of 2025.