Real Singapore retail sales slightly rising

Real Singapore retail sales – the data excluding motor vehicles – recovered 0.7 per cent in December over November – and by an even smaller 0.3 per cent year-on-year.

The total value of retail sales in December 2016 was estimated at $4.2 billion, similar to that of December 2015.

Sales of computer & telecommunications equipment and department stores fell 6.8 per cent and 2.2 per cent month-on-month.

But sales of watches & jewellery, medical goods & toiletries, optical goods & books, recreational goods, mini-marts & convenience stores, furniture & household equipment, petrol service stations and supermarkets increased between 1.2 per cent and 6 per cent. Retailers of wearing apparel & footwear and food & beverages recorded marginal growths of 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.

Year-on-year, retail sales of medical goods & toiletries, recreational goods, furniture & household equipment, mini-marts & convenience stores, optical goods & books and supermarkets rose between 0.8 per cent and 9.9 per cent in December 2016.

In contrast, sales of computer & telecommunications equipment fell 9 per cent, with sales of petrol service stations, food & beverages, wearing apparel & footwear, watches & jewellery and department stores down by between 0.3 per cent and 2.2 per cent.

Food & beverage services

Sales of food & beverage services (seasonally adjusted) fell 2.2 per cent in December 2016 month-on-month. Compared to the same period last year, sales of food & beverage services declined 0.3 per cent in December 2016.

After seasonal adjustment, turnover of fast food outlets decreased 5.6 per cent month-on-month, while sales of other eating places (such as cafes), restaurants and food caterers fell between 1.5 per cent and 1.8 per cent over the same period.

Year-on-year, restaurant sales declined 7.9 per cent, but turnover at other eating places, food caterers and fast food outlets rose between 3.7 per cent and 5.1 per cent.