SEOUL, Jan 22 (AFP): South Korea, Asia's fourth largest economy, forecast continued retail growth this year as domestic demand picks up, the commerce, industry and energy ministry said in a report released today. The ministry said it expects sales to grow 4.0 per cent year- on-year at department stores, 8.6 per cent at shopping malls and 26 per cent on the Internet in 2006 -- compared with growth of 5.8 per cent, 4.8 per cent and 39.8 per cent respectively in 2005. It attributed the sustained retail growth to recovering private consumption, the rallying stock market, robust exports, a potential consumer spending binge sparked by this year's World Cup and falling household debt.
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