Holidays and Mother's Day Boost Taiwan's Retail and F&B Sales to Record Highs

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced on the 26th that retail and F&B sales in April reached NT$404.8 billion and NT$85.2 billion, respectively, both setting record highs for the month. Promotional activities during the holidays and Mother's Day boosted domestic demand. The MOEA expects retail and F&B to maintain positive growth in May, though the F&B sector's growth rate may be limited to around 1% due to the shift in the Dragon Boat Festival timing compared to last year. In the retail sector, department stores, apparel, and e-commerce performed well, while automotive sales remained weak due to market caution. The wholesale sector grew by 25.2% year-on-year to NT$1.543 trillion, driven by the expansion of emerging technology applications and rising petrochemical raw material prices.