Real Singapore retail sales slid a further 2 per cent in November, according to Singstat data released today.

While the topline figure grabbing headlines showed an impressive 4.7 per cent increase – once the sales of new motor vehicles were removed from the data, what Inside Retail Singapore refers to as “real” Singapore retail sales, slid 2 per cent.

That follows year on year falls of 4.6 per cent in October and 1.4 per cent in September.

But on a more positive note, from October to November real retail sales rose 1.9 per cent, according to Singstat.

The total value of retail sales in November was estimated at S$3.5 billion.

Besides cars, the upward categories were medical goods and toiletries, up 9.6 per cent, and department stores, up 1.3 per cent.

Food and beverage sales declined 11.4 per cent; phones and computers by 8.2 per cent; and food and beverages by 4 per cent.

After seasonal adjustment, turnover of food caterers, other eating places (such as cafes) and fast food outlets decreased between 0.5 per cent and 2.7 per cent in November 2015 compared to October 2015. Restaurants registered an increase of 1 per cent in receipts.