FX.co ★ South Korea Retail Sales Stabilize in May: A Halt in Decline Observed

After a downward trend in previous months, South Korea’s retail sales numbers have shown signs of stabilizing for May 2025. The latest data reveals that the retail sales index has reached 0.0%, standing still after a decline of 0.9% in April. This signifies a significant shift, halting the negative momentum that has been troubling the sector.

This recent halt in decline comes as a relief for South Korean retailers, who have been grappling with fluctuating consumer demand amidst ongoing macroeconomic challenges. The change suggests that measures to boost consumer spending or external economic conditions might have contributed to bringing retail sales to a neutral stance, with no increase or decrease from the previous month.

The economic environment remains closely watched by analysts, who will be determining if this stabilization indicates a turning point towards recovery or if more robust growth measures are necessary to sustain the momentum in upcoming months. As of June 29, 2025, updated data portrays a cautious optimism among industry stakeholders in South Korea.