Statistics South Africa has published the retail trade sales figures for February 2016 and measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 4,1% year-on-year in February 2016. 

The highest annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (7,8%);
• general dealers (5,5%); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (4,2%).

 The main contributors to the 4,1% increase were:

• general dealers (contributing 2,2 percentage points);
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 0,8 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

 Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,5% month-on-month in February 2016. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,7% in January 2016 and 0,1% in December 2015. In the three months ended February 2016, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,9% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 3,9% in the three months ended February 2016 compared with the three months ended February 2015. The main contributors to this increase were:

• general dealers (4,2% and contributing 1,7 percentage points); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,1% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).