SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's retail sales rose in single digits in January due to strong demand for online purchases, government data showed Wednesday.
The combined revenue among major offline and online retailers grew 4.4 percent in January compared to the same month of 2025, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Revenue of online retailers expanded 8.2 percent on sales growth in most products, while revenue of offline retailers fell 0.6 percent amid lower consumer spending in discount outlets.
The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI), which gauges the sentiment of consumers over the economic situation, rose 1.3 points from 110.8 in January to 112.1 in February, continuing to go up for the second straight month.
Food demand in cyberspace gained 7.7 percent in January from a year earlier, and online sales of daily necessities increased 9.6 percent.
Online demand for service, including travel, food delivery and e-coupon purchase, climbed 2.1 percent, while sales of home appliances, clothing and cosmetics advanced in double digits.
Revenue for department stores mounted 13.4 percent on robust demand for winter clothing, but sales in discount outlets tumbled 18.8 percent as the Lunar New Year's holidays moved to February this year from January last year.
Revenue among convenience stores inched up 0.8 percent, driven by dessert items and ready-to-eat meals. ■
