Retail in Asia

In Markets

Singapore retail sales down 5.4pc in March

Retail sales in Singapore decreased 5.4 percent in March 2013 compared to February 2013. Compared to a year ago, retail sales fell 7.4 percent in March 2013. The figures, however, do not include motor vehicle sales.

After seasonal adjustment, retailers of telecommunications apparatus & computers
and medical goods & toiletries recorded double-digit declines in sales of 15.8 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively in March 2013 over February 2013.

Similarly, retail sales of motor vehicles, watches & jewellery, wearing apparel & footwear, department stores, furniture & household equipment, supermarkets, petrol service stations and food & beverages decreased between 1 percent and 9.5 percent compared to the previous month.

Compared to March 2012, retailers of motor vehicles recorded a decrease in sales of 32.7% in March 2013. Retail sales of telecommunications apparatus & computers, furniture &
household equipment and petrol service stations also registered declines of between 3.4% and 10.0 percent.

In contrast, retail sales of food & beverages, supermarkets, department stores, recreational goods, provision & sundry shops and medical goods & toiletries recorded increases of between 3.9 percent and 8.8 percent in March 2013 over March 2012.

Similarly, retail sales of wearing apparel & footwear and optical goods & books increased 1.9 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively during this period.