Motor vehicle sales plummet 19.7% in July

Dragging down the retail sales index.

Latest data from the Department of Statistics Singapore showed that after seasonal adjustment, retailers of motor vehicles recorded a double-digit decline of 19.7% in sales in July 2013 over June 2013.

Similarly, retail sales of recreational goods, wearing apparel & footwear, medical goods & toiletries, telecommunications apparatus & computers, supermarkets, department stores, watches & jewellery, provision & sundries and petrol service stations decreased between 1.0% and 9.2% compared to the previous month.

On the other hand, retailers of optical goods & books and furniture & household equipment recorded sales increases of 2.3% and 1.6% respectively over the same period.

Compared to July 2012, retailers of motor vehicles reported a 42.7% decline in sales. Retail sales of telecommunications apparatus & computers, recreational goods and wearing apparel & footwear also decreased between 2.4% and 7.0% in July 2013.

In contrast, turnover of petrol service stations, food & beverages, optical goods & books, watches & jewellery and supermarkets increased between 4.0% and 8.4% in July 2013 over July 2012. Similarly, retail sales of furniture & household equipment, department stores, provision & sundry shops and medical goods & toiletries went up between 1.5% and 3.7%.