Chart of the Day: Which retail segments reported positive sales growth in January?

The highest registered sales growth was at 13%.

There was strong sales growth across several retail segments in January, lifting overall sales to 2%.

Retail segments which saw the highest growth in the said month were supermarkets, which clocked in a 13% uptick, and food & beverage, which saw 12% growth.

Following the two were petrol service stations (7.1%), medical goods & toiletries (6.7%), watches & jewellery (4.7%), and wearing apparel & footwear (4%).

Registering the lowest uptrend were department stores (3.2%), motor vehicles (2.1%), and computer & telecommunications equipment (1.2%).

Meanwhile, only four segments posted sales declines. Furniture & household equipment saw the biggest slump at 9.7%, followed by optical goods & books, which ended January with an 8.8% decline.

Mini-marts & convenience stores and recreational goods posted smaller declines of 2.8% and 2.5%, respectively.