FX.co ★ South Korea’s Retail Sales Accelerate in January, Pointing to Stronger Consumer Demand

South Korea’s retail sector showed a solid pickup at the start of 2026, with month‑over‑month sales growth rising to 2.3% in January from 0.6% in December 2025, according to data updated on 3 March 2026.

The latest figures, measured on a month‑over‑month basis, indicate that consumer spending momentum strengthened notably as the new year began. While December’s 0.6% increase reflected modest growth compared with November, January’s 2.3% gain suggests a more robust expansion in retail activity.

The improvement in January underscores a sharper recovery in domestic demand, as the actual monthly change in retail sales clearly outpaced the previous month’s performance. Policymakers and markets will be watching upcoming data closely to see whether this stronger spending trend is sustained in the months ahead.