Economic Release
KR: Retail Sales
Date: March 30, 2025 06:00 PM CT
| Actual | Previous | Revised | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month over Month | 1.5% | -0.6% | -0.7% |
| Year over Year | -2.3% | 0.0% |
Highlights
South Korea's retail sales index rose 1.5 percent on the month in February after falling 0.7 percent in January. On the year, the index fell 2.3 percent after no change previously.
Officials also published a separate report on sales for 25 large retailers. This showed year-over-year growth of 4.4 percent in February, picking up from 11.7 percent in January, which had been the biggest increase in six months. Online sales recorded another month of strong growth, but sales for offline retailers fell, largely reflecting the impact of the timing of lunar new year holidays
Officials also published a separate report on sales for 25 large retailers. This showed year-over-year growth of 4.4 percent in February, picking up from 11.7 percent in January, which had been the biggest increase in six months. Online sales recorded another month of strong growth, but sales for offline retailers fell, largely reflecting the impact of the timing of lunar new year holidays
Definition
Retail Sales measure the total receipts at stores that sell durable and nondurable goods. The data are part of the Monthly Industrial Statistics report.
Description
With consumer spending a large part of the economy, market players continually monitor spending patterns. The pattern in consumer spending is often the foremost influence on stock and bond markets. For stocks, strong economic growth translates to healthy corporate profits and higher stock prices. For bonds, the focus is whether economic growth goes overboard and leads to inflation. Ideally, the economy walks that fine line between strong growth and excessive (inflationary) growth.
Retail sales not only give you a sense of the overall picture, but also the trends among different types of retailers. Especially strong apparel or electronics sales can indicate strength in those industries, for example. These trends from the retail sales data can help you spot specific investment opportunities, without having to wait for a company's quarterly or annual report.
Retail sales not only give you a sense of the overall picture, but also the trends among different types of retailers. Especially strong apparel or electronics sales can indicate strength in those industries, for example. These trends from the retail sales data can help you spot specific investment opportunities, without having to wait for a company's quarterly or annual report.
