Singapore retail sales grow 4.8% in March, but cool from Chinese New Year-driven February surge
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, retail sales rise 3.7% in March
Add BT as a preferred source
[SINGAPORE] Retail sales in Singapore rose 4.8 per cent year on year in March this year, slowing from the 8.3 per cent surge in February as the boost from Chinese New Year seasonal demand faded, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Tuesday (May 5).
The February figure had been buoyed by the shift in Chinese New Year timing from January in 2025 to February this year.
Excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories, retail sales grew 3.3 per cent, easing from February’s 11.3 per cent expansion.
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, retail sales rose 3.7 per cent in March, reversing from February’s 4.3 per cent decline.
Excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories, retail sales grew 3.3 per cent on a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, against a 4.4 per cent contraction in the month prior.
Retail sales categories
Year on year: 4.8 per cent
Navigate Asia in
a new global order
Get the insights delivered to your inbox.
Year on year, excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories: 3.3 per cent
Month on month, seasonally adjusted: 3.7 per cent
Total retail sales value: S$4.7 billion
Year on year, sales grew in 11 of the 14 categories:
- Recreational goods: 13.1 per cent
- Motor vehicles, parts and accessories: 12.9 per cent
- Computer and telecommunications equipment: 11.9 per cent
- Watches and jewellery: 6.2 per cent
- Petrol service stations: 4 per cent
- Wearing apparel and footwear: 3.6 per cent
- Cosmetics, toiletries and medical goods: 3.3 per cent
- Supermarkets and hypermarkets: 2.7 per cent
- Mini-marts and convenience stores: 2 per cent
- Optical goods and books: 0.2 per cent
- Others: 7.5 per cent
These categories posted a decline:
- Food and alcohol: -6 per cent
- Department stores: -5.7 per cent
- Furniture and household equipment: -1.9 per cent
Food and beverage services
Year on year: 2.3 per cent
Month on month, seasonally adjusted: -2.5 per cent
- Food caterers: 13.7 per cent
- Fast-food outlets: 4.8 per cent
- Restaurants: 1.7 per cent
- Cafes: 1.1 per cent
- Food courts and other eating places: -1.5 per cent
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
TRENDING NOW
On the board but frozen out: The Taib family feud tearing Sarawak construction giant apart
Is it time to scrap COE categories for cars?
Thai and Vietnamese farmers may stop planting rice because of the Iran war. Here’s why
Former manager with DBS Bank admits cheating 7 victims, including his uncle, of over S$1 million
