SINGAPORE: Retail sales in September 2008 registered a 1% decline over the previous month.

After seasonal adjustments and the exclusion of motor vehicles sales, receipts for September were down by 4.6% over the previous month.

The latest figures from the Department of Statistics also showed total retail sales for September amounted to S$2.9b, compared to S$2.7b in August.

While September saw a pick-up in the purchase of vehicles, household items, toiletries and telco items, retailers generally saw fewer people eating out and shopping.

Retailers of clothes and footwear, watches and jewellery, recreational goods and petrol reported lower receipts of between 6.2% and 8.1% in September compared to August.

Sales in supermarkets, food and beverages outlets, department stores and sundry shops also declined.

Although receipts for restaurants rose by 3.3% compared to August, fast food outlets and food caterers saw sales falling by 10.7% and 7.8% respectively in September.

The total value of catering trade in September was estimated at S$416 million compared to S$422 million in the previous month.

On a year-on-year basis, most retail segments reported higher sales, with sales up 7.2% over a year ago.

-CNA/sf