Retail trade sales increased by 2.4 percent year-on-year in May 2014, Statistics SA said on Wednesday.

"The main contributors to the 2.4 percent increase were general dealers contributing 1.0 percentage point and retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods contributing 0.9 of a percentage point," Stats SA said.

"Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0.8 percent month-on-month in May 2014. This followed month-on-month changes of 0.4 percent in April 2014 and -1.1 percent in March 2014."

The highest annual growth rates were recorded for all 'other' retailers with 4.2 percent and retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods with 3.9 percent, Stats SA said.

Retail trade sales increased by 1.8 percent in the three months ended May 2014, compared with the three months ended May 2013.

The main contributors to this increase were retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods, and general dealers.