12.12.201802:38:00UTC+00Singapore Retail Sales Growth Slows Sharply In October

Singapore's retail sales grew for a second straight month in October, but the pace of increased slowed sharply, amid weaker sales in department stores and supermarkets.

Retail sales at current prices edged up 0.1 percent year-on-year after a 1.9 percent gain in September. In August, sales fell 0.4 percent.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail sales dropped 0.4 percent month-on-month in October, same as in September.

Excluding automobiles, retail sales grew 0.5 percent yearly after a 1.7 percent gain in September. Compared to the previous month, sales fell 2.1 percent in October following a 0.1 percent drop in the previous month

Year-on-year, department store sales fell 3.6 percent, while sales at supermarkets and hypermarkets dropped 2.9 percent. Motor vehicles sales decreased 2 percent.

Sales at petrol service stations logged the biggest increase of 11.4 percent, followed by medical goods and toiletries with a 3.4 percent rise.