Retail sales in South Africa jumped 8.7% in December over the same month a year earlier, a better-than-expected increase that suggested the country's economic growth remains driven by consumer spending.
Economists had expected retail sales to rise about 6.5% on the month.
Retail sales were up 1.3% in December from November. Gains were strongest for textile, clothing, footwear and leather goods retailers, reflecting purchases during the holiday season.
Consumer spending has been a driver of South Africa's increasingly lackluster growth in recent quarters. The reserve bank has projected that the economy grew 3.1% last year, and foresees growth of 2.8% in 2012.
The International Monetary Fund has an even grimmer outlook of just 2.5% growth in Africa's largest economy this year.
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