SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's retail sales recorded single-digit growth last month due to the recovery in consumer demand, government data showed Tuesday.
The combined revenue among major offline and online retailers gained 4.2 percent in November from a year earlier, lower than a growth of 6.7 percent in the previous month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Revenue of online retailers swelled 5.3 percent in the cited month, while sales by offline retailers climbed 2.9 percent, keeping an upward trend for the second straight month.
The consumer sentiment index rose 2.6 points over the month to 112.4 in November, hovering above the long-term average of 100.
Food demand in cyberspace jumped 15.8 percent, and online sales of daily necessities expanded 4.2 percent.
Online demand for services, including travel, food delivery and e-coupon purchase, increased 3.0 percent, with sales of cosmetics growing in double 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 12.3 percent, but sales in discount outlets retreated 9.1 percent. ■
