South African retail sales grow 5.8% in April 2012

South African retail sales, in real terms, grew 5.8% in April 2012 from the same month a year ago, according to the data released by Statistics South Africa.

Retail sales totalled ZAR52.4bn ($6.26bn) in April at current prices, whereas they reached ZAR44.3bn ($5.3bn) on a constant prices basis in the month.

Hardware, paint and glass sales grew 8.7% year-on-year in April, recording the highest annual growth rate.

Retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment categories saw a 4.2% increase in April sales, on an annual basis.

Pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries sales rose 3.3% year-on-year in April.

Textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods sales were up 2.1% in April, on an annual basis.

Sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores decreased 3% year-on-year in April.

General dealers sales saw a 0.1% rise in the month, on an annual basis, while all other general retailers recorded 1% sales growth.

Seasonally adjusted retail sales were marginally up by 0.8% to ZAR46.9bn ($5.6bn) at constant prices in April from the previous month.

In the February-April 2012 period, retail trade sales grew 4.7% at contact prices to ZAR132.2bn ($15.8bn), compared with the same period last year.

During the same period, textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods sales rose 5.9% and sales of hardware, paint and glass climbed 5.4%.

Household furniture, appliances and equipment sales jumped 4.9% in the period, while general dealers saw a 4.1% increase.

In the three months ending April, retailers of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores recorded a 1.6% gain.

Sales in pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries were up 4% during the period, while sales all other retailers grew 7.2%.

Image: Retail sales in South Africa grew 4.7% year-on-year in the February-April 2012 period. Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net