Singapore retail sales fell year-on-year in November, once motor vehicles are removed from the data.

Government statistics show a 6.5 per cent increase in November 2014 – but remove motor vehicles from the figures and sales actually dropped 0.4 per cent year on year, and by 0.9 per cent compared with October. A 50.2 per cent increase in car sales caused the misleading statistical blip.

Total retail sales in November were estimated at S$3.2 billion.

By category, watches and jewellery and medical goods and toiletries were the big retail performers, rising 3.9 per cent year on year, closely followed by department stores, up 3.8 per cent.

In contrast, sales of furniture and household goods slumped 6.8 per cent and recreational goods by six per cent.

The table below, produced by Department of Statistics Singapore, shows the full picture.