SINGAPORE – Retail sales rose in May, reversing April’s decline, but takings at the till were stagnant when motor vehicle sales were removed from the picture.
But excluding motor vehicles, retail sales in May were flat, though this was an improvement from the 4.5 per cent drop in the previous month.Motor vehicle sales posted the largest growth, of 19.5 per cent, corresponding to a higher certificate of entitlement quota. Food and alcohol sales rose 11.1 per cent, while takings of watches and jewellery increased by 7.4 per cent.
Compared with April and seasonally adjusted, total retail sales rose 2.4 per cent, and 3.3 per cent when motor vehicles were excluded. Online retail sales made up 47.9 per cent of the total sales of computer and telecommunications equipment, 30.7 per cent of furniture and household equipment sales and 12.8 per cent of takings in supermarkets and hypermarkets.