SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's retail sale rose in single digits last month due to solid online demand for food, daily necessities and service, government data showed Wednesday.
Combined revenue for major offline and online retailers gained 3.7 percent in August from a year earlier, lower than an increase of 9.1 percent in the previous month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Revenue among online retailers jumped 10.5 percent in the cited month, while sales by offline retailers reduced 3.1 percent in August after growing 2.7 percent in the prior month.
Food demand in cyberspace spiked 16.3 percent, and online sales of daily necessities expanded 6.5 percent.
Online demand for service, including travel, food delivery and e-coupon purchase, mounted 18.1 percent, but sales of clothing and sports items slipped in single digits.
Demand for home appliances in offline stores sank in double figures, while offline sales of clothing, food, and daily necessities logged a single-digit slide last month.
Revenue among department and convenience stores climbed 2.8 percent and 1.1 percent each, but sales in discount outlets tumbled 15.6 percent. ■
