Monthly year-over-year sales change by retail format. (Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)
Online sales extended steady growth in March, while among offline retailers, department stores and convenience stores stayed in positive territory. Big-box discount stores, however, returned to a decline after a one-month reprieve.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s report on March 2026 sales trends at major retailers released Tuesday, combined sales at major retailers rose 5.6% from a year earlier.
Offline sales increased 1.9% year over year. By format, department stores climbed 14.7% and convenience stores rose 2.7%, while big-box discount stores fell 15.2% and mid-sized retailers declined 8.6%.
Department store and convenience store sales have risen for nine straight months since July last year. The ministry attributed department store gains largely to higher foreign tourist traffic and demand tied to spring outings and the new school term, which boosted sales of well-known overseas brands. Convenience stores posted growth in processed and ready-to-eat foods, tobacco and miscellaneous goods.
Big-box discount stores weakened as spending continued to shift online, with most categories — including food and daily necessities — underperforming, pushing sales back into negative territory. Mid-sized retailers extended their slide to a fourth consecutive month. On a quarterly basis, big-box discount stores have been sluggish for eight straight quarters since the second quarter of 2024, and mid-sized retailers for three straight quarters since the third quarter of last year.
Online sales rose 8.1% from a year earlier, continuing a sustained uptrend since the government began compiling the data. In addition to strong performers such as cosmetics (up 15.8%), food (up 10.6%) and home and household goods (up 9.5%), sales also increased for appliances and electronics (up 11.1%), children and baby products (up 10.7%) and books and stationery (up 4.1%).
By sales share, online accounted for 60.6%, followed by department stores at 15.4%, convenience stores at 13.9%, big-box discount stores at 8.1% and mid-sized retailers at 2.0%. Compared with last year’s annual shares, online rose 1.6 percentage points while offline fell 1.6 points.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s report on March 2026 sales trends at major retailers released Tuesday, combined sales at major retailers rose 5.6% from a year earlier.
Offline sales increased 1.9% year over year. By format, department stores climbed 14.7% and convenience stores rose 2.7%, while big-box discount stores fell 15.2% and mid-sized retailers declined 8.6%.
Department store and convenience store sales have risen for nine straight months since July last year. The ministry attributed department store gains largely to higher foreign tourist traffic and demand tied to spring outings and the new school term, which boosted sales of well-known overseas brands. Convenience stores posted growth in processed and ready-to-eat foods, tobacco and miscellaneous goods.
Big-box discount stores weakened as spending continued to shift online, with most categories — including food and daily necessities — underperforming, pushing sales back into negative territory. Mid-sized retailers extended their slide to a fourth consecutive month. On a quarterly basis, big-box discount stores have been sluggish for eight straight quarters since the second quarter of 2024, and mid-sized retailers for three straight quarters since the third quarter of last year.
Online sales rose 8.1% from a year earlier, continuing a sustained uptrend since the government began compiling the data. In addition to strong performers such as cosmetics (up 15.8%), food (up 10.6%) and home and household goods (up 9.5%), sales also increased for appliances and electronics (up 11.1%), children and baby products (up 10.7%) and books and stationery (up 4.1%).
By sales share, online accounted for 60.6%, followed by department stores at 15.4%, convenience stores at 13.9%, big-box discount stores at 8.1% and mid-sized retailers at 2.0%. Compared with last year’s annual shares, online rose 1.6 percentage points while offline fell 1.6 points.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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