Singapore retail sales rose 4.1 per cent in March after the exclusion of motor vehicles from the figures – following February’s 2.4 per cent improvement. 

Online sales accounted for 15.2 per cent of the estimated S$3.5 billion turnover, slightly higher than in February. As usual, the categories with the highest rate of online sales were electronics, furniture and homewares and supermarkets, at 48.3 per cent, 33.3 per cent and 13.6 per cent respectively. 

Increased liquor sales from duty-free stores underpinned a 55.1 per cent increase in the food and liquor category in March, while apparel stores recorded a 26.5 per cent boost, led by increased demand for bags and footwear. Department store sales increased by 16.8 per cent.

However, sales of furniture and household equipment, at supermarkets and of electronic goods fell by between 2.4 per cent and 5.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, sales by restaurants, cafes and bars rose by 17.8 per cent year on year in March, hard on the heels of a 21.6 per cent rise in February. 

Of total F&B sales of $956 million over the month, online transactions accounted for 24.6 per cent.