Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales would increase by just 1.1% compared with the same month last year.
On a month-on-month basis, sales were up 0.6%, and rose 1.2% in the three months to August compared with the same period in 2013.
"The main contributor to the 2.1% increase were general dealers (contributing 1.4 percentage points) and retailers in hardware, paint and glass (contributing 0.4% of a percentage point)," Stats SA said.
The highest annual growth rates were recorded in retailers in hardware, paint and glass, general dealers and all "other" retailers.
Retailers in hardware, paint and glass increased by 4.6%, general dealers by 3.4% and "other" retailers 3.1%.
Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0.6% month-on-month in August this year.
"This followed month-on-month changes of 1.2% in July 2014 and -0.8% in June 2014," Stats SA said.
Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0.9% in the three months ended August compared to the previous three months.
Retail trade sales increased by 1.2% in the three months ended August 2014, compared with the three months ended August last year.
"The main contributor to this increase was general dealers (1.6% and contributing 0.7 of a percentage point)."
Retail trade sales up by 2,1% y/y in August '14. Highest growth: retailers in hardware, paint &glass (4,6%) #StatsSA http://t.co/wj4YCcmLY9
— Stats SA (@StatsSA) October 15, 2014
- Reuters, Sapa