Singapore economy

Singapore’s Feb key exports growth slows to 4%; electronics surge eases, non-electronics slide

The conflict in the Middle East will pose a significant headwind going forward, economists say; Maybank trims its GDP forecast

With refineries and crackers under pressure, manufacturers are set to feel more strain in feedstock supply.

In charts: Singapore’s energy and chemicals sector in focus as Middle East conflict escalates

The sector’s green pivot could help it be less vulnerable to oil and gas disruptions in the long term

The focus lately has shifted decisively towards cost-of-living relief. Transfers for households take the form of, for example, GST vouchers.

Singapore’s special transfers expenditure: a strategic fiscal approach to resource allocation

The mechanism behind this spending shows how institutional design can balance short-term responsiveness with long-term discipline

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales tumbled 2.8% against December’s 1.8% expansion.

Singapore retail sales fall 0.4% in January, hampered by later Chinese New Year timing

The drop misses forecast of 2.8% growth and reverses December’s 2.5% gain

Gan says the immediate impact of the tariff developments on Singapore’s economy is “not expected to be significant”.

Unclear if US tariffs on Singapore will rise from 10% to 15%: Gan Siow Huang

America has yet to issue an official directive on the increase, she says

A broader uplift in standards and clearer recognition of high-quality HR practice is needed, says the writer.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Singapore should professionalise HR to stay agile amid disruption

Stronger human resources capabilities strengthen business agility and resilience

Phantom worker arrangements involve employers making false CPF contributions for locals who do not actually work, artificially boosting a firm's foreign worker entitlement.

100 employers caught making false CPF contributions to boost foreign worker quotas from 2024 to 2025

Errant employers face fines of up to S$20,000 per fraudulent work pass application and a ban on hiring foreign workers

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong says that even in the difficult environment now, there remain “good opportunities for Singapore as a trusted, knowledge-driven and connected hub”.

Singapore to reassess growth, inflation forecasts if necessary: DPM Gan

City-state faces an ‘unpredictable and uncertain’ global trading environment, says the deputy prime minister

The electronics sector continued to perform in February, with growth supported by faster expansions in new orders, new exports, factory output and employment.

Singapore PMI edges up to 50.6 in February, but Gulf conflict fuels oil uncertainty

The Purchasing Managers’ Index for the electronics sector grows by 0.2 point to 51.3