# South Korean retail sector trends > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-retail-sector-trends > Updated: 2026-10-31T23:48:20.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. South Korean retail markets are experiencing varied shifts in consumer spending. Hypermarket sales have entered a significant downturn, recording a 1.9 percent decrease in the third quarter. This marks the tenth consecutive quarterly decline, the longest continuous downward trend since 2010. Overall retail sales in the country fell by 0.5 percent, driven largely by a 7.0 percent drop in durable goods. In contrast, department stores and duty-free shops reported growth of 4.3 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively. However, growth in the luxury goods sector within major department stores, such as Lotte, Shinsegae, and Hyundai, has slowed. Luxury sales growth dropped to the 10 percent range in October after reaching approximately 40 percent in the second quarter. The jewelry sector saw a particularly sharp decline, with growth falling from between 65 percent and 80 percent in the second quarter to roughly 15 percent to 20 percent in October. Analysts attribute this to a weakening stock market and falling gold prices. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-31: South Korean hypermarkets face longest sales decline South Korean hypermarket sales have declined for ten consecutive quarters, the longest streak on record, while department stores and duty-free shops reported growth. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-hypermarkets-face-longest-sales-decline ### 2026-10-31: Luxury goods sales growth slows in South Korean department stores Luxury sales growth at major South Korean department stores fell from 40% in Q2 to approximately 10% in October, reflecting a broader global slowdown in the luxury market. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/luxury-goods-sales-growth-slows-in-south-korean-department-stores --- Cite as: South Korean retail sector trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-retail-sector-trends