Dec retail sales down 5.5% on vehicle slump

Singapore

RETAIL sales fell 5.5 per cent year-on-year in December, as sales of motor vehicles slumped, although retail sales were up from the previous month.

According to data released yesterday by the Department of Statistics (DOS), the slower sales during the month came as retailers of motor vehicles registered a 32 per cent drop in sales. Still, the year-on-year decline in November had been sharper, falling 8.7 per cent.