Singapore's retail sales tumbled 6.9% in June

No thanks to weak motor vehicles sales.

According to the Department of Statisctics, retail sales (seasonally adjusted) decreased 6.9% in June 2013 compared to May 2013. However, excluding motor vehicles, retail sales went up 1.0%.

After seasonal adjustment, retailers of motor vehicles recorded a 33.8% decline in receipts in June 2013 over May 2013. Retail sales of telecommunications apparatus & computers and watches & jewellery also decreased 8.5% and 4.4% respectively over the same period.

On the other hand, retailers of furniture & household equipment, petrol service stations and medical goods & toiletries registered increases in sales of between 6.0% and 7.1% in June 2013 compared to the previous month. Similarly, retail sales of wearing apparel & footwear, recreational goods, provision & sundry shops and supermarkets increased between 2.1% and 3.1% over the same period.

Year-on-Year Change
Compared to June 2012, retailers of motor vehicles reported a 26.9% decline in sales while retail sales of telecommunications apparatus & computers and furniture & household equipment also decreased 8.2% and 3.5% respectively in June 2013.

In contrast, retailers of food & beverages, supermarkets, medical goods & toiletries and department stores recorded increases in sales of between 6.2% and 7.8% in June 2013 over June 2012. Similarly, retail sales of watches & jewellery, provision & sundry shops, petrol service stations and optical goods & books increased between 1.8% and 4.4%.