SEOUL, March 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's retail sales rose in single digits owing to strong food demand during the Lunar New Year's holidays, government data showed Wednesday.
The combined revenue among major offline and online retailers expanded 7.9 percent in February compared to the same month of last year, faster than an increase of 4.4 percent in the previous month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Revenue of online retailers grew 3.9 percent, while revenue of offline retailers jumped 14.1 percent last month after sliding 0.6 percent a month earlier.
The Lunar New Year's holidays boosted demand for food in both offline and online stores.
Food purchases in offline stores soared 16.6 percent, accounting for 47.9 percent of the total offline sales.
Offline demand for clothing and sports items advanced in double figures last month.
Food demand in cyberspace spiked 17.4 percent, but online sales of daily necessities, home appliances, sports items and clothing logged a single-digit reduction.
Online demand for services, including travel, food delivery and e-coupon purchase, inched down 0.1 percent.
Revenue for discount outlets and department stores mounted in double digits, and sales in convenience stores rose in single figures. ■
