Retail sales in Indonesia dropped by 4.5 percent year-on-year in May 2023, reversing from a 1.5 percent rise in the previous month. It was the first decline in retail trade since January, as consumption weakened after the Eid el Fitr celebration. Sales fell for foods (-2.7% vs 4.6% in April), cultural & recreational goods (-6.6% vs 9.9%), automotive parts & accessories (-1.2% vs -4.9%), information & communication (-25.3% vs -23.5%), fuels (-8.4% vs -8.3%), and home appliances (-8.4% vs -2.9%). In addition, sales of clothing rose much less (7.1% vs 17.6%). On a monthly basis, retail sales shrank by 8.0% in May, the first decline in three months, after a 12.8% surge in April, which was the strongest pace in 12 months.
