Illustrative image (Photo:https://think.ing.com/) Singapore (VNA) – Singapore’s retail sales in January fellfor the first time in nearly a year amid a slump in motorvehicle sales and as consumers snapped up fewer big-ticket furniture andhousehold equipment, according to the Singaporean Department of Statistics.
Retail sales dipped 0.8% in January year-on-year, reversing the revised 7.7-percent increase inDecember .
The last time sales fell was in February 2022,when it slid 3.5 % due to the timing of Lunar New Year as consumers did theirpre-festive shopping earlier.
Overall, the estimated total retail sales valuein January was 4.2 billion SGD (3.12 billion USD), of which online sales made up about 11.5%,lower than the 13% recorded in December last year.
Analysts predicted that domestic demand will continue to beweak, especially in the first half of 2023.
Despite the negative start, economists continueto expect retail sales growth to remain positive this year, even as it likelyeases.
The Singaporean government's support measures this year willpartially address the decline in demand caused by rising inflation and value-addedtax.
Tourism could also help boost the country's retail sales asChina has gradually reopened, the department said.
Singapore's total retail sales are estimated to increase by between5-6% this year./.
