Real Singapore retail sales slide

Real Singapore retail sales fell 2.1 per cent in November in a disappointing month for the sector.

Month-on-month they slipped 0.3 per cent.

Sales of motor vehicles helped drive the topline figure to an increase of 0.5 per cent.

According to Statistics Singapore, total retail sales in November 2016 were estimated at $3.6 billion, similar to that in November 2015.

Year-on-year, the computer & telecommunications equipment sector was the worst performer, declining 13.5 per cent

Sales of watches & jewellery, wearing apparel & footwear, furniture & household equipment, supermarkets, food & beverages, department stores, mini-marts & convenience stores and petrol service stations fell between 1.1 per cent and 6 per cent during the period.

Bucking the trend medical goods & toiletries, recreational goods and optical goods & books, which increased by between 0.3 per cent and 4.4 per cent.

Food and beverage

Turnover of restaurants decreased 11.9 per cent in November 2016 compared to November 2015. In contrast, sales of food caterers, fast food outlets and other eating places increased between 5 per cent and 7.5 per cent during the period.

Sales of restaurants and other eating places (such as cafes) declined 6.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively month-on-month. Conversely, turnover of fast food outlets and food caterers rose 8.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent.

The total sales value of food & beverage services in November 2016 was estimated at $650 million, $9 million less than in November 2015.