SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's retail sale rose in single digits last month due to solid online demand for food, daily necessities and service, government data showed Wednesday.
The combined revenue among major offline and online retailers gained 7.7 percent in September from a year earlier, faster than an increase of 3.7 percent in the previous month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Revenue of online retailers jumped 16.5 percent in the cited month, while sales by offline retailers shrank 1.0 percent in September after sliding 3.1 percent in August.
Food demand in cyberspace spiked 26.0 percent, and online sales of daily necessities expanded 11.6 percent.
Online demand for service, including travel, food delivery and e-coupon purchase, mounted 16.1 percent, with sales of home appliances and cosmetics grew in double digits.
Demand for home appliances in offline stores tumbled in double figures, while offline sales of clothing, sports items, food and daily necessities logged a single-digit decrease last month.
Revenue among discount outlets retreated 11.7 percent, but sales in department and convenience stores increased in single figures. ■
