In 2025, South Korea experienced a 0.5% year-on-year increase in retail sales, recovering from the previous year's decline. This growth was primarily driven by a heightened demand for durable goods, particularly vehicles. In December, retail sales saw a month-on-month rise of 0.9%, making a comeback after a significant 3.3% drop in November. Retail sales serve as a crucial measure of private consumption, and this late-year upturn suggests a stabilization in the momentum of household spending.