Retail sales down 0.4% in August to $3.8b

Motor vehicle sales dropped 12.8%.

Retail sales dipped 0.4% YoY in August 2018 mainly due to lower motor vehicle sales, the Department of Statistics (SingStat) revealed.

Apart from the decline in sales registered in motor vehicles (12.8%), computer & Telecommunications equipment (-3.8%), food retailers (-3.5%), optical goods & books (-2.3%), supermarkets & hypermarkets (-1%), furniture & household equipment (-0.7%) also saw a slip in their sales.

Meanwhile, petrol service stations led the increase as its sales inched up 10.4%, watches & jewellery (6.3%), wearing apparel & footwear (6%), recreational goods (4.4%), medical goods & toiletries (2.6%), mini-marts & convenience stores (1.4%) also recorded a hike in their sales.

Total retail sales in August clocked in at $3.8b where 4.6% came from online retail sales.

Meanwhile, food and beverage (F&B) sales rose 3.8% with fast food outlets picking up the highest sales growth at 8.7%.

Restaurants and other eating places such as cafes also saw their sales growing by 4.7% and 1.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, sales of food caterers dropped 1.2% YoY.

The total sales value of food & beverage services in August 2018 was estimated at $728m.