Real Singapore retail sales in May rose on April’s figures – but remain down year-on-year.
According to Statistics Singapore, total retail sales (seasonally adjusted) increased 1.4 per cent in May 2016 over April. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales increased an even better 2.3 per cent.
But compared to May 2015, retail sales decreased 3.3 per cent after removing motor vehicle sales from the data. Including vehicles, total sales rose 3 per cent year-on-year.
After seasonal adjustment, retail sales of watches & jewellery, furniture & household equipment, food & beverages, optical goods & books, department stores, apparel & footwear, medical goods & toiletries and petrol stations increased between 0.8 per cent and 6.5 per cent in May 2016 compared to April.
In contrast, retail sales of recreational goods, mini-marts & convenience stores, phones & computers and supermarkets decreased by between 0.4 per cent and 6.3 per cent in May over April 2016.
Year-on-year, retail sales of furniture & household equipment and medical goods & toiletries grew by 3.1 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.
Conversely, retail sales of phones & computers and petrol service stations declined 17.3 per cent and 14.9 per cent respectively. Sales of recreational goods, optical goods & books, watches & jewellery, food & beverages, supermarkets, mini-marts & convenience stores, apparel & footwear and department stores also fee, by between 1.9 per cent and 8.7 per cent. .
The total retail sales value in May 2016 was estimated at $3.7 billion, higher than the $3.6 billion in May 2015.
Food & beverage service sales
Sales of food & beverage services (seasonally adjusted) increased 0.9 per cent in May over April.
Compared to May last year, sales of food & beverage services increased 0.7 per cent.
The total sales value of food & beverage services in May 2016 was estimated at $690 million, higher than the $685 million in May 2015.
Year-on-year, sales by ‘other’ eating places grew by 6.7 per cent and by fast food outlets by 1 per cent.
However, turnover of food caterers decreased 3.7, and of restaurants by 3.6 per cent.