South Korea’s retail sales fell 1.8% month over month in August 2026, following an upwardly revised 2.6% decline in July. The contraction marked a second consecutive monthly decrease, driven largely by weaker sales of durable goods, including passenger cars, as well as food and beverages. Retail activity was also down 0.3% year over year after an upwardly revised 1% decline in the previous period. As a key gauge of private consumption, the data indicate that household spending remained under pressure, pointing to continued weakness in domestic demand and a cautious consumer environment.