SINGAPORE retail sales in June decreased by 4.9 per cent compared to the same month the previous year. Excluding motor vehicles, however, sales rose by 5 per cent, according to Singapore's Department of Statistics.

Seasonally adjusted retail sales index fell 0.7 per cent in June 2010 compared to the previous month. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales declined one per cent.

Compared to June 2009, sales of motor vehicles fell 32.3 per cent in June 2010. Retail sales of telecommunications apparatus and computers, provision and sundry shops and food and beverages also fell between 1.7 per cent and 6.3 per cent.

Watches and jewellery recorded double-digit growth of 24.2 per cent. Retail sales of furniture and household equipment, medical goods and toiletries, wearing apparel and footwear, department stores, petrol service stations, optical goods and books, recreational goods and supermarkets rose between 1.2 per cent and 9.5 per cent during this period, a statement said.

Source: shipping online