Singapore retail sales continue to rise

Real Singapore retail sales rose in July – but restaurants noticed a downturn.

According to Statistics Singapore, retail sales (excluding motor vehicles) rose 2.2 per cent year-on-year for the month, to S$3.7 billion. Including motor vehicles, they rose 1.8 per cent.

Against June, retail sales (excluding cars) rose 2. 6 per cent.

Sales of food & beverage services declined 0.5 per cent in July, to an estimated total of $723 million.

Compared to July 2016, retail sales by petrol service stations, of medical goods & toiletries, by department stores, of watches & jewellery, wearing apparel & footwear, computer & telecommunications equipment, recreational goods and at supermarkets increased between 0.1 per cent and 8.1 per cent in July.

But sales of furniture & household equipment, by food retailers, mini-marts & convenience stores and of optical goods & books decreased between 1.2 per cent and 6.3 per cent.

Turnover of restaurants decreased 5.8 per cent year-on-year in July. But, sales of fast food outlets, by food caterers and other eating places rose between 1.5 per cent and 7.1 per cent.