Sales at South Korea's department store chains grew slightly from a year earlier last month, with those of major discount outlet chains also showing signs of improvement, the government said Wednesday.

The combined sales of three major department store chains gained 1.3 percent from the same month last year in April, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The increase marked a turnaround from a 5.7 percent on-year drop in the previous month.

"Sales at department stores rose from a year earlier on increased sales of major items, including food, house supplies, women's clothing and luxury import brands," the ministry said in a press release.

The rise in sales was also attributed to an increase in the number of people shopping at department stores.

In April, the total number of purchases at department stores grew 5.2 percent from a year earlier while the average amount of the purchases slipped 3.7 percent on-year.

The three department store chains are Hyundai, Lotte and Shinsegae.

Sales at the country's three major discount outlet chains showed little change from a year earlier, but also marked a turnaround from a 6.5 percent on-year drop in the previous month.

The total number of purchases at the three discount outlet chains -- E-Mart, Homeplus and Lotte Mart -- gained 2.2 percent on-year while the average amount of the purchases shrank at the same rate in April, according to the ministry.

Sales at the so-called super supermarkets slipped 1.4 percent on-year.

Sales at convenience stores spiked 28.4 percent from a year earlier last month, posting an on-year gain for the 12th consecutive month. (Yonhap)