Singapore's January retail sales dipped 2%

Blame it on weak food and beverage sector.

According to a release by the Department of Statistics, compared to a year ago, retail sales fell 2.0% in January 2013. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales went down 4.9%.

Meanwhile, seasonally adjuested retail sales decreased 1.4% in January 2013 compared to December 2012. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales declined 1.1%. 

After seasonal adjustment, retail sales of telecommunications apparatus & computers, medical goods & toiletries and optical goods & books decreased between 5.5% and 9.2% in January 2013 over December 2012. Similarly, retail sales of recreational goods, watches & jewellery, motor vehicles and food & beverages declined between 0.7% and 3.8% compared to the previous month. 

On the other hand, provision & sundry shops, department stores, petrol service stations and supermarkets recorded an increase in sales of between 0.5% and 3.5% over the same period.  

Compared to January 2012, retail sales of food & beverages decreased 24.3% in January 2013. The lower sales was partly due to the higher base in January 2012 during which the Chinese New Year holiday was celebrated, as compared to this year when Chinese New Year fell in February 2013.

Retail sales of department stores, supermarkets, wearing apparel & footwear, recreational goods, telecommunications apparatus & computers, watches &
jewellery and provision & sundry shops also registered declines of between 3.2% and 9.2%.

In contrast, retailers of motor vehicles and furniture & household equipment recorded an increase in sales of 10.5% and 6.8% respectively in January 2013 over January 2012. Retail sales of petrol service stations increased slightly by 1.0% over the same period.  

Month-on-Month Change (Seasonally Adjusted)
After seasonal adjustment, fast food outlets and food caterers recorded an increase in receipts of 11.7% and 2.0% respectively in January 2013 over December 2012. 

On the other hand, receipts of restaurants decreased 1.3% compared to the previous month.

Year-on-Year Change
Compared to January 2012, restaurants recorded an 11.1% decline in receipts in January 2013. Similarly, turnover of food caterers and fast food outlets decreased 3.2% and 3.1% respectively over the previous year. 

In contrast, turnover of other eating places (such as cafes and canteens) increased 1.2% in January 2013 over January 2012.