Real Singapore retail sales ease up in September

Real Singapore retail sales recovered marginally month-on-month in September after a series of declines.

Real retail sales, are the figures excluding motor vehicles. They rose 0.7 per cent against August but fell 1.9 per cent on September 2015. Sales including motor vehicles, sales fell 0.7 per cent month-on-month and rose 2 per cent.

Total retail sales value in September 2016 was estimated at $3.5 billion, higher than the $3.4 billion in September 2015.

Month-on-month, retail sales of motor vehicles, watches & jewellery, medical goods & toiletries, optical goods & books, department stores and supermarkets decreased between 0.1 per cent and 6.3 per cent in September 2016 over August.

Sales of recreational goods and computer & telecommunications equipment grew by 12.4 per cent and 11.1 per cent respectively. Sales of petrol service stations, furniture & household equipment, mini-marts & convenience stores, food & beverages and wearing apparel & footwear also increased between 1 per cent and 9.7 per cent.

Compared to September 2015, sales of recreational goods, mini-marts & convenience stores, medical goods & toiletries, petrol service stations and furniture & household equipment increased between 0.1 per cent and 6.7 per cent. Sales of computer & telecommunications equipment, food & beverages, watches & jewellery, department stores, supermarkets, optical goods & books and wearing apparel & footwear declined between 2.9 per cent and 9.6 per cent.

Food & Beverage results

Sales of food & beverage services (seasonally adjusted) increased 3.6 per cent in September 2016 over the previous month and 3.5 per cent compared with September 2015.

The total sales value of food & beverage services in September 2016 was estimated at $687 million, higher than the $664 million in September 2015.

Turnover of restaurants and other eating places (such as cafes) increased 6.6 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively in September over August. Sales by food caterers and fast food outlets decreased 6.6 per cent and 2.2 per cent.

Year-on-year, sales by other eating places, fast food outlets and restaurants increased between 0.9 per cent and 7.9 per cent. Food caterers’ sales fell 1.4 per cent.