Malaysian consumers splurge in April as wholesale, retail trade growth hit 2022 highs

KUALA LUMPUR (June 12): Consumer spending in Malaysia accelerated in April as wholesale and retail trade grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years. Wholesale and retail trade in April totalled RM174.8 billion, an increase of 15.3% when compared to the same month in 2025, the Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement. The growth rate is the highest since Sept 2022, and sharply higher than the 9.8% year-on-year rise in March. On a month-on-month basis, however, distributive trade growth slowed to 6.6% in April from 12.7% gain in March. Retail trade recorded sales of RM71 billion, a 6.3% year-on-year increase, driven by sales at hypermarkets, mini markets, and convenience stores as well as retail at specialised stores such as clothing, pets, and automotive fuel. The wholesale sector saw a 24.1% rise in sales to RM83.5 billion from a year earlier mainly due to higher prices of petrol, diesel and lubricants following a jump in global crude oil prices despite a relatively lower growth in volume. There were also higher sales reported for construction materials, hardware, plumbing, heating equipment and supplies, the department noted. A separate automotive segment, meanwhile, rose 15.5% year-on-year to RM20.4 billion in April thanks to higher sales of vehicles, parts and accessories, and maintenance services. In terms of volume, wholesale and retail trade registered growth of 6.2% in April against the same month in 2025. However, the seasonally adjusted volume index increased 0.4% month-on-month. The index for retail sales over the internet rose 7.1% year-on-year in April from a year earlier, reflecting sustained strength of online commerce and consumer spending.