Retail sales in South Korea edged up by 0.1% month-on-month in May 2026, rebounding slightly from a downwardly revised 3.5% drop in the previous month, which had marked the steepest decline since July 2020.
The modest recovery was largely driven by higher sales of vehicle fuel and cosmetics.
On a year-on-year basis, retail sales increased by 1.7% in May, following a 1.6% rise in the preceding period.
As a key gauge of private consumption, the figures indicate that household spending regained some momentum in May, though the modest monthly increase suggests consumer demand remained relatively subdued.