Singapore retail sales – excluding motor vehicles – increased by 8.3 per cent in September, following a flat month in August. 

Statistics Singapore said higher sales of mobile phones due to new product launches played a key role in the rising sales. On a seasonally adjusted basis, and excluding motor vehicles, Singapore retail sales increased by 5.1 per cent from August to September, with sales remaining below pre-Covid levels in both months. 

Online retail sales comprised an estimated 18 per cent of overall sales. Online sales were driven by the computer & telecommunications equipment category, along with furniture & household equipment, and supermarkets.

Sales of food and beverage services increased 4.4 per cent in September, reversing August’s 6.7-per-cent decline. Stricter dine-in restrictions were applied in August.