Retail Sales in South Africa surged by 3.4% from a year ago in July 2026, following a downwardly revised 1.1% rise in June and overshooting market forecasts of a 0.9% increase. This marked the strongest growth in retail activity since January, mainly on account of general dealers (3.2% and contributing 1.3 percentage points); all ‘other’ retailers (6.8%); retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (2.9%) and retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (4.8%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales climbed by 2.5%, after an upwardly revised 0.8% decrease in June. Retail trade sales rose by 2.2% in the three months ended July 2026 compared with the three months ended July 2025