Singapore retail sales fell 7.8%

Dragged by weaker motor vehicle sales.

According to the Department of Statistics, compared to a year ago, retail sales declined 7.8% in August 2013. However, excluding motor vehicles, retail sales went up 1.4%.

Compared to August 2012, retailers of motor vehicles reported a 41.5% decline in sales while retail sales of telecommunications apparatus & computers and furniture & household equipment also decreased 7.7% and 7.1% respectively in August 2013.

In contrast, retailers of recreational goods recorded a double-digit sales increase of 11.2% in August 2013 over August 2012. Similarly, turnover of food & beverages, optical goods & books, department stores, supermarkets, petrol service stations, provision & sundry shops and medical goods & toiletries increased between 2.1% and 6.2%.