SINGAPORE: Singapore’s retail sales rose 25.8 per cent in June on a year-on-year basis, with growth attributed to a low base in the same period last year when stricter COVID-19 measures were in place for most of the month.
Physical stores remained closed and dining-in at food and beverage outlets was suspended during Phase 1 of Singapore’s reopening from a “circuit breaker” period between Jun 1 and Jun 18 last year.
June’s retail sales growth was slower than the previous month’s pace of 79.7 per cent, which was also recorded against a low base due to the circuit breaker measures in place for the whole of May 2020.
Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales rose 19 per cent in June, lower than the 61.7 per cent increase in May, said the Department of Statistics (SingStat) on Thursday (Aug 5).
On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail sales rose 1.8 per cent in June compared to May, with the difference falling to 0.4 per cent when motor vehicles were excluded.
SALES ROSE IN MOST INDUSTRIES
Most retail industries recorded large year-on-year growth in sales due to last year’s low base, according to SingStat.
The exceptions were supermarkets and hypermarkets, and minimarts and convenience stores, which fell 7.9 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively. This was due to higher demand for groceries last year, said SingStat.
Sales of motor vehicles expanded the most, at 80.6 per cent, followed by watches and jewellery with 78.4 per cent growth.
Department stores saw sales increase 61.8 per cent, while wearing apparel and footwear took in 60 per cent more and recreational goods jumped by 53.9 per cent.
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