September retail sales up 5.5%, buoyed only by vehicle sales

Singapore

DRIVEN by sales of motor vehicles, retail sales grew 5.5 per cent year on year in September, without which they would have been up by a more muted 0.6 per cent.

Total retail sales value in September was S$3.1 billion, up from S$3 billion a year ago. Sales of motor vehicles rose 30 per cent year on year and just 1.8 per cent month on month, said the Department of Statistics (DOS) on Friday. "Retailers of motor vehicles recorded an increase in sales of 30 per cent (year on year) in September, in line with the increase in the number of motor-vehicle sales transactions," it said.