Singapore retail sales – after excluding motor vehicles from the data – dropped 2.1 per cent year-on-year in January, following the 2.8 per cent decrease in December.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, January retail sales edged up 0.5 per cent versus the previous month, according to the Department of Statistics.

The estimated total retail sales value was SG$3.7 billion (US$2.75 billion), of which 12.9 per cent was online.

There were mixed performances within the retail trade sector, highlighted by an 11.8 per cent decline in sales of wearing apparel & footwear. Supermarkets & hypermarkets and recreational goods recorded decreases of 6.5 per cent and 4.9 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, food & alcohol and watches & jewellery enjoyed growths in sales of 8.5 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively. 

Sales of food & beverage services fell 5.6 per cent in January, following the 0.4 per cent growth in December. The lower sales were partly attributed to Chinese New Year being celebrated in end-January 2023 while the celebration was in February this year. 

The total sales value of F&B services was estimated at SG$942 million (US$700 million), of which 23.1 per cent were from online sales.