Singapore retail sales down with 33 percent in April
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Singapore retail sales – excluding motor vehicles – plummeted 32.8 percent in April as Covid-19-related lockdowns saw non-essential retailers closing their physical stores.
Including motor vehicles in the data, the fall was 40.5 percent.
Significantly, online sales accounted for a record 17.8 percent of total retailing, with 70.6 percent of sales in the computer and telecommunications category occurring online in April and 50.4 percent of furniture and household equipment. However, just 7.7 percent of the total sales of supermarkets were conducted online.
According to Statistics Singapore, the worst-affected retail sector overall was department stores where sales fell by 87.8 percent. Sales in watch and jewelry stores fell by 84.6 percent.
On the plus side, sales by supermarkets & hypermarkets soared 74.6 percent, partly driven by people staying at home to work or study during the Circuit Breaker lockdown and partly due to the move from eating out to preparing food at home. Minimarts & convenience stores boosted their sales by 10.7 percent.
Questions & Answers
Q.What was the overall decline in retail sales in Singapore for April?
What was the overall decline in retail sales in Singapore for April?
Retail sales in Singapore fell by 32.8 percent in April when excluding motor vehicles. Including motor vehicles in the data, the overall decline was 40.5 percent.
Q.Which retail sectors experienced the most significant sales declines in April?
Which retail sectors experienced the most significant sales declines in April?
Department stores were the worst-affected sector, with sales plummeting by 87.8 percent. Sales in watch and jewellery stores also saw a sharp fall of 84.6 percent.
Q.Which retail categories saw increased sales during April's lockdown period?
Which retail categories saw increased sales during April's lockdown period?
Supermarkets and hypermarkets experienced a 74.6 percent increase in sales. Minimarts and convenience stores also boosted their sales by 10.7 percent during this period.
Q.How did online sales contribute to total retail activity in April?
How did online sales contribute to total retail activity in April?
Online sales accounted for a record 17.8 percent of total retailing in April. Specific categories like computer and telecommunications saw 70.6 percent of sales online, and furniture and household equipment reached 50.4 percent.
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