Singapore's July month-to-month retail sales up 3.2pc

SINGAPORE's retail sales increased 3.2 per cent in July compared to June, but only by 1.3 per cent with vehicle sales removed, according to the government's department of statistics.

Yet July retail sales decreased 1.2 per cent year on year, but increased six per cent if vehicle sales were excluded, the government statement said.

After seasonal adjustment, sales of wearing apparel and footwear, telecommunications apparatus and computers, medical goods and toiletries, provision and sundry shops grew by 5.1 per cent to 6.1 per cent in July 2010 against the previous month.

Similarly, retailers of motor vehicles, recreational goods, department stores, petrol service stations, supermarkets, food and beverages reported higher turnover of between 1.8 per cent and 4.7 per cent.

Retail sales of furniture and household equipment, optical goods and books went down 3.1 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively in July.

Compared to last year, sales of motor vehicles fell 24.8 per cent in July 2010. Retailers of telecommunications apparatus and computers, food and beverages, provision and sundry shops also reported lower sales of between 1.3 per cent and 3.0 per cent.

All other retail trade activities registered positive year-on-year sales growth. Sales of watches and jewellery, medical goods and toiletries, apparel and footwear recorded double-digit growth between 10.5 per cent and 16.9 per cent.

Retail sales of department stores, petrol service stations, furniture and household equipment, recreational goods, supermarkets, optical goods and books grew by 2.5 per cent to 8.9 per cent.
(Source:www.schednet.com)