Singapore's retail sales up 15.8% in February compared to a year ago

Singapore's retail sales increased 15.8 per cent in February compared to a year ago. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales rose 14.8 per cent, the Department of Statistics said on Wednesday.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail sales fell 3.3 per cent in February compared to the previous month. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales remained unchanged.

The total retail sales value in February was estimated at S$3.4 billion, higher than the S$3.0 billion in February 2014.

Compared to a year ago, retail sales of food & beverages, department stores and supermarkets grew by 29 per cent to 66.6 per cent, arising from higher sales during the Chinese New Year period in February 2015.

Retail sales of motor vehicles, wearing apparel & footwear, furniture & household equipment, mini-marts & convenience stores and medical goods & toiletries increased between 10 per cent and 25.4 per cent.

Telecommunications apparatus & computers and watches & jewellery also reported higher retail sales of 6.1 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively over the same period.