KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's retail industry achieved a weaker-than-expected growth rate of -3 percent in retail sales, as compared to the same period in 2024, Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) said Thursday.

RGM said in a statement that this latest quarterly result signaled higher living costs and reduced purchasing power among Malaysian households.

Malaysian consumers, especially those living in major cities, needed to navigate their monthly expenditures carefully in order to maintain their lifestyles.

It noted that retail prices of many non-essential goods and services continued to rise during the second quarter of 2025.

During this period, disrupted supply chains contributed to higher costs of imports that impacted retail companies in Malaysia.

For the first six months of this year, Malaysia's retail industry grew by merely 1.5 percent, as compared to the same period in 2024.

Based on the statement, the retail sector in the country is anticipated to expand by 2.6 percent during the third quarter of 2025.

For the last quarter of 2025, Malaysia's retail industry is hopeful of a 3.5 percent growth rate with the year-end holidays, RGM noted. ■