Singapore retail sales – excluding motor vehicles – were up only 0.5 per cent year-on-year in September, a slowdown compared to the 4 per cent increase in August.

According to the Department of Statistics Singapore, the total retail sales value was about US$2.5 billion, down 0.8 per cent month over month on a seasonally adjusted basis. Online retail sales accounted for 15.2 per cent of total sales value.

By industry, sales of food & alcohol jumped 22.6 per cent, followed by toiletries & medical goods (10.3 per cent) and apparel & footwear (8.1 per cent).

Retailers of computer & telecommunications equipment and furniture & household equipment recorded declines in sales of 12.7 per cent and 4.8 per cent, respectively.

Sales of food & beverage services rose 6.9 per cent year on year to US$726 million, following the 8.6 per cent growth in August. Approximately 23 per cent of this came from online sales.

All industries within this sector posted sales growths, led by food caterers with a 24.1 per cent increase.