Retailers selling textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods recorded one of the strongest recoveries, with sales rebounding 3.7% after contracting 1% in April.
South Africa's retail sector maintained its growth momentum in May, buoyed by a rebound in clothing sales and resilient online shopping demand.
However, economists have warned that rising inflation, higher fuel costs and the prospect of another interest rate hike are likely to weigh on household spending in the months ahead.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Wednesday reported that retail trade sales increased 2.3% year-on-year in May, accelerating from a downwardly revised 1.2% increase recorded in April.
On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales edged up 0.1% after rising 0.9% in April, while sales over the three months to May were 2% higher than the corresponding period last year.
