Singapore retail sales fell 1 per cent year over year in October (after excluding motor vehicles from the data), marking the first decline this year.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail sales dropped 1.3 per cent compared to September, according to the Department of Statistics Singapore.

The total retail sales value was about SG$3.6 billion (US$2.68 billion), of which 14.7 per cent were online.

About half of the industries in the retail trade sector recorded negative growth, led by recreational goods with sales down 8.1 per cent year on year. 

Furniture & household equipment and department stores also saw declines of 7.5 per cent and 6.0 per cent, respectively.  

Meanwhile, sales of food & alcohol rose 22 per cent, followed by watches & jewellery’s 6.1 per cent improvement. 

Regarding food & beverage services, sales grew 2.4 per cent to SG$979 million (US$731 million), extending the 6.9 per cent increase in September. Online sales accounted for about 23.6 per cent of the sector’s total sales value.