BI: Retail Sales Performance Falls 1.5 Per Cent in May 2026

A Bank Indonesia (BI) survey shows that retail sales performance contracted in May 2026. The Real Sales Index (IPR) was recorded at 223.4, a decrease of 1.5 per cent month-on-month compared to the previous month’s level of 226.9.

Executive Director of BI’s Communication Department, Ramdan Denny Prakoso, stated that this position was better compared to the previous month’s realisation, which fell by 11.6 per cent month-on-month. “This development was influenced by public demand during the National Religious Holiday (HBKN) periods of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, Eid al-Adha, and Waisak,” he said in a written statement.

In detail, the improvement in the May IPR was driven by increased performance in the Information and Communication Equipment Group and the Motor Vehicle Fuels Group, which grew by 1 per cent month-on-month and 1.3 per cent month-on-month respectively, better than the previous month’s growth of -9.4 per cent and 0.2 per cent.

Other groups also showed improvement with lower contractions compared to the previous period, particularly in the Food, Beverages, and Tobacco Group (-1.3 per cent month-on-month), the Cultural and Recreation Goods Group (-4.2 per cent month-on-month), and the Clothing Subgroup (-11 per cent month-on-month).

The IPR for June 2026 is estimated to be at a level of 221.6, or a decrease of 0.8 per cent month-on-month. The June IPR is mainly supported by positive annual sales growth in the Spare Parts and Accessories Group and Other Household Equipment. “This development is influenced by the start of the school holiday period at the end of June 2026,” said Denny.