SINGAPORE: Singapore's retail sales rose 13.1% in March from a year ago to S$2.576 billion, led chiefly by higher car sales, according to Department of Statistics data released on Monday.
Sales of motor vehicles, which have a 26% weighting in the retail index, rose 18.4% on year and 56.8% on month in March, reversing a downward trend in February.
February was a disappointing month for car sales because many consumers delayed purchases that month in anticipation of a reduction in car tax in the government's budget. The reduction didn't materialize.
Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales rose 7.4% from a year ago, and 8.7% from February, the department said.
Month-on-month, retail sales in March rose 30.1% from February.
At constant prices, the retail sales index rose 13.5% over March 2004.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the retail sales index rose 10.7% over February. - CNA/ir
But the retail sector is not doing well
