2026.06.2408:13:24UTC+00Taiwan Retail Sales Expand at Softer Pace in May

Retail sales in Taiwan increased by 4.9% year-on-year in May 2026, slowing slightly from a 5.2% rise in April. Most major categories continued to expand, though at a more moderate pace. Growth eased in general merchandise stores (5.5% vs 7.2% in April), textiles and clothing (8.1% vs 14.1%), pharmaceutical and medical goods (5.9% vs 6.6%), cultural and recreational goods (9.0% vs 10.6%), information and communications equipment (4.3% vs 11.0%), non-store retail (5.4% vs 5.7%), and e-commerce and mail-order houses (8.7% vs 9.1%).

By contrast, sales of food, beverages and tobacco slipped into contraction (-0.2% vs 3.7% previously), while sales of motor vehicles, motorcycles and related parts remained in negative territory, though the decline narrowed (-0.9% vs -4.6%). On the upside, growth picked up in several categories, including household appliances (6.0% vs 3.7%), construction materials (10.0% vs 4.7%), fuel and related products (16.9% vs 7.1%), and other retail sales (10.0% vs 6.6%).

On a month-on-month basis, retail sales rose 2.6% in May, reversing a 0.3% decline in April.