Singapore's retail sales jumped 5.3% in April

Thanks to robust motor vehicles sales.

According to the Department of Statistics, retail sales (seasonally adjusted) increased 5.3% in April 2013 compared to March 2013. 

Compared to a year ago, retail sales fell 0.5% in April 2013. In contrast, retail sales went up marginally by 0.2% after excluding motor vehicles. 

After seasonal adjustment, retailers of motor vehicles recorded a double-digit increase in sales of 36.1% in April 2013 over March 2013. Similarly, retail sales of watches & jewellery and telecommunications apparatus & computers increased 6.0% and 5.0% respectively compared to the previous month.

On the other hand, retail sales of petrol service stations, wearing apparel & footwear, department stores, provision & sundry shops, optical goods & books, recreational goods and food & beverages recorded decreases of between 1.3% and 5.2% in April 2013 over March 2013.

Year-on-Year Change
Compared to April 2012, retailers of telecommunications apparatus & computers recorded a decrease in sales of 8.4% in April 2013. Retail sales of petrol service stations, wearing apparel & footwear, motor vehicles and furniture & household equipment also registered declines of between 2.5% and 4.9%.

In contrast, retail sales of watches & jewellery, food & beverages and supermarkets recorded increases of between 4.4% and 5.0% in April 2013 over April 2012. Similarly, retail sales of medical goods & toiletries, provision & sundry shops and recreational goods increased between 1.2% and 2.8% during this period.