Sept retail sales down 11.8% on-year due to lower motor vehicle sales
By Irene Chan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 November 2009 1437 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Retail sales in Singapore fell 11.8 per cent in September from a year ago, mainly due to lower motor vehicle sales.

Data from the Department of Statistics on Friday showed that excluding motor vehicles, retail sales would have dipped only 1.2 per cent on-year.

Compared to August, September retail sales dropped 7.9 per cent after adjusting for seasonal factors.

Turnover of motor vehicles in September was 36.3 per cent lower from a year earlier. Sales at petrol service stations also dropped by 11.9 per cent due partially to lower prices.

The statistics department said sales of optical goods, books, telecommunications apparatus, as well as computers and furniture, fell less than 5 per cent on-year.

Consumers, meanwhile, bought more medical goods, toiletries as well as watches and jewellery compared to a year ago.

Supermarkets and apparels also recorded a slight increase in receipts in September from a year earlier.


- CNA/so