SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's retail sale rose in single digits last year due to strong demand in cyberspace, government data showed Wednesday.
The combined revenue among major offline and online retailers grew 6.8 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Revenue of online retailers soared 11.8 percent on steady growth in sales of most products, while revenue for offline retailers inched up 0.4 percent amid lower consumer spending in discount outlets.
In December alone, the retail sale gained 4.4 percent on a yearly basis, faster than an increase of 4.2 percent in the previous month.
Revenue of online retailers climbed 6.3 percent in the cited month, while sales by offline retailers swelled 1.7 percent, keeping an upward trend for the third straight month.
The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI), which gauges the sentiment of consumers over economic situation, rose 1.0 point from a month earlier to 110.8 in January, hovering above the long-term average of 100.
Food demand in cyberspace jumped 13.7 percent in December from a year ago, and online sales of daily necessities expanded 6.0 percent.
Online demand for service, including travel, food delivery and e-coupon purchase, shrank 2.4 percent, but sales of cosmetics and home appliances grew in single digits.
Offline sales of clothing and sports items went up in single digits, but those for food and daily necessities declined in single figures.
Revenue for department stores advanced 9.3 percent, but sales in discount outlets retreated 9.0 percent. ■