South Korea's retail sales increased by 9.1 per cent in July 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by strong online demand for food, daily necessities, and services, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported on Wednesday. Online retailers saw a 15.3 per cent increase in revenue in the reported month, while offline retailers experienced a 2.7 per cent growth in sales in July following a 1.1 per cent decline in the previous month. It followed the implementation of an additional budget plan by the new administration of President Lee Jae-myung, who assumed office in early June. The plan included cash handouts designed to stimulate consumer demand. Attribution: Xinhua Subediting: M. S. Salama
