South Africa retail sales rise 1.3% in April, slower than March

South Africa's retail sales grew 1.3% year-on-year in April, data from Statistics South Africa showed on Wednesday. This follows a revised 2.5% increase in March.

On a month-on-month basis, seasonally adjusted retail sales rose 0.9% in April. The figures suggest household demand remains resilient despite economic pressures.

Retail sales are a key measure of consumer confidence and spending. The April data indicates consumers are still spending, but at a slower pace than the previous month.

Policymakers and investors watch these numbers closely as they assess domestic demand. Challenges include inflation, interest rates, and broader economic uncertainty.