Retail Sales Increased by 2% In February Ahead Of Coronavirus Lockdown – Stats SA

THEBE MABANGA

SOUTH AFRICA’S retail sales got a fillip just ahead of the national lockdown with a 2% increase in February compared to February last year, figures released by Statistics South Africa on Wednesday showed.

Figures for March and April will be blighted by the National State of Disaster declared in Mid-March and the National Lockdown that started at the end of that month and saw non-food and medical retailers closed for the entire month of April.

In February food, beverages and tobacco sales in specialised stores rose by 1%, after surging by 4,7% in January while pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries fell by 2%.

These categories will likely have been boosted by the lockdown as they were declared essential and remained opened throughout.

Retailers of household furniture, appliances and equipment showed a 4,7% rise in sales while retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods saw a 1,5%