South Korea’s retail sales fell 2.4% month-over-month in July 2026, reversing a 2.7% increase in June. The decline was led by weaker durable-goods sales, especially passenger cars and home appliances. Retail activity also dropped 0.8% year-on-year, compared with a downwardly revised 3.9% increase in the preceding period. As a gauge of private consumption, the data indicate that household spending lost momentum at the start of the third quarter, which could weigh on domestic demand and economic growth.