SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's retail sales rose in single digits in August on the back of early holidays and a heatwave, government data showed Wednesday.
The combined revenue of 26 major retailers, comprising 15 offline and 11 online ones, gained 7.7 percent in August from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
The earlier-than-usual holidays of Chuseok, the South Korean version of Thanksgiving Day, lifted demand for holiday gift sets, while a prolonged heatwave boosted food delivery and travel bookings.
Offline retail sales grew 5.4 percent last month, and sales by online retailers swelled 9.3 percent.
Sales by department stores advanced 11.9 percent, driven by strong pre-sales of holiday food gift sets and resilient demand for luxury goods and vacation gear.
Revenue for hypermarkets mounted 4.5 percent, snapping a five-month consecutive fall due to a seasonal rush for food items alongside home appliances and toys.
Grocery purchases in cyberspace expanded 12.6 percent amid solid demand for holiday gifts.
Online demand for services and others, such as travel, food delivery and e-coupon purchases, jumped 16.9 percent as the scorching weather prompted more consumers to use food delivery services, buy e-coupons and book travel products online. ■