Johannesburg - Growth in South Africa’s retail sales slowed
to 4.2% year-on-year in July compared with a revised 8.6% in June, Statistics
South Africa said on Wednesday.
On a monthly basis, sales were up by 0.1% in July and
increased by 6.2% in the three months to July compared with the same period a
year ago.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected year-on-year sales
growth of 7.1% in July.
The retail sales data was based on a new sample drawn in
April 2012, replacing previous sample drawn last year.
“Underlying retail sales is slowing but not overly fast,
helped by unsecured credit growth and still-decent real disposable income
growth.
“The number today probably won’t really unduly trouble the
South African Reserve Bank and will be in line with their view of a steady
slowdown in consumption,” said analyst Peter Attard Montalto.
Growth in sales averaged 6.1% last year compared with 5.1%
in 2010.
Analysts expect sales to moderate this year as consumers cut
down on non-essential spending as higher fuel and food costs bite.
A 25% unemployment rate is also likely to hamper robust
sales in retail stores.
Consumer spending boosted economic growth in the third and
fourth quarters of 2011 as demand-related sectors grew. The central bank cut
interest rates to a 40-year low of 5% last month.
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