Retail trade sales increase: Stats SA

Retail trade sales increased by 2.3 percent year-on-year in September 2014, Statistics SA said on Wednesday.

The main contributors to the 2.3 percent increase were general dealers (contributing 0.8 percent) and retailers in hardware, paint, and glass (contributing 0.5 percent).

The highest annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in hardware, paint, and glass (6.1 percent), retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (4.6 percent), retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (3.6 percent), and all "other" retailers (3.6 percent ).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0.8 percent month-on-month in September 2014.

This followed month-on-month changes of 0.5 percent in August 2014 and 1.2 percent in July 2014.

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0.9 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 2.2 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared with the third quarter of 2013. The main contributor to this increase was general dealers (2.6 percent and contributing 1.1 percent).