Singapore retail sales slipped in March

Singapore retail sales slid by 1.5 per cent in March, after excluding motor vehicle sales from the data.

According to Statistics Singapore, most retail categories recorded lower sales for the month compared with the same period last year.

Sales of optical goods and books fell by 6.4 per cent and of computers and telecommunications equipment by 4.9 per cent.  

Food retailers, watch and jewellery retailers and department stores reported sales declines of between 4.6 per cent and 5.7 per cent.

In contrast, sales of medical goods and toiletries rose by 2.8 per cent, due in part to higher demand for cosmetics. Supermarkets and hypermarkets registered sales growth of 0.9 per cent.

Month on month, Singapore retail sales were essentially stable.

The total market for March was estimated at $3.8 billion, with online sales comprising about 5.3 per cent.

Food and beverage services

Year-on-year sales of food and beverage services in Singapore rose by 0.7 per cent in March.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, sales of food and beverage services increased 1.3 per cent month on month.

Total sales value for the sector was $868 million, compared to $863 million in March last year.

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