FX.co ★ South Korea Retail Sales Growth at 3-Month High

South Korea’s retail sales rose 2.3% month-on-month in January 2026, up from a 0.6% increase in December and marking the strongest growth in three months, indicating a rebound in household spending at the start of the year. The pickup was likely driven by stronger demand for durable goods and seasonal factors, although underlying consumption patterns remain uneven. On a year-on-year basis, however, retail sales inched up just 0.1% in January, a sharp slowdown from the 1.3% gain recorded in December.