South Korea retail sales grew 10.8 percent in April, on the back of stronger online sales in the north Asian country during the month, according to government data.
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According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the combined sales of 25 major offline and online retailers in South Korea came to KRW 15.4 trillion won (USD 11.2 billion) for April, compared with KRW 13.9 trillion a year earlier.
By channel, offline store sales dipped 0.2 percent during the period, due to the reduced number of weekend days, which totaled eight, down two from the previous year, said the government.
However, online retail was the star performer, surging 22.2 percent, as local retailers set up promotional events to rival overseas platforms. As a result, online platforms accounted for 54 percent of total sales in April, up from 49 percent a year earlier, the ministry said.
Elsewhere, supermarket sales fell 6.7 percent, following weaker demand for electronics, daily necessities and sports items, while sales at department stores also decreased 2 percent, with the demand for imported luxury items falling 3.3 percent, according to the data.
Contrastingly, convenience stores saw their sales lift 5.9 percent on the back of tobacco products and processed food.
Last month, it was reported that duty-free retail sales nationwide (excluding inflight retail) rose by 29.6 percent month-on-month in March to almost KRW1.2 trillion (USD 858 million).