Singapore Retail Sales Growth Eases in March

Retail sales in Singapore rose by 4.8% year-on-year in March 2026, slowing from a 8.3% increase in the previous month. This marked the second consecutive month of growth in retail activity but at a softer pace, largely due to lower sales in department stores (-5.7% vs 18% in February) and food and alcohol (-6% vs 12.7%). Activity growth also slowed in supermarkets and hypermarkets (2.7% vs 28.9%), cosmetics, toiletries and medical goods (3.3% vs 13.5%), and overall retail sales excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories (3.3% vs 11.3%). On the other hand, turnover increased for motor vehicles, parts and accessories (12.9% vs -7.8%), petrol service stations (4% vs -10.1%), and computer and telecommunication equipment (11.9% vs 2.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade grew by 3.7%, rebounding from a 4.3% drop in February.

Retail sales in Singapore climbed by 8.3% year-on-year in February 2026, rebounding sharply from a slightly upwardly revised 0.5% decline in the previous month. This marked the fastest rise in retail activity since February 2023, mainly driven by higher sales in department stores (16.8% vs -12.9% in January), food and alcohol (13.6% vs 1.9%), cosmetics, toiletries and medical goods (13% vs -0.2%), wearing apparel and footwear (8.8% vs -13.1%), and others (12.8% vs -14.7%). Total retail sales excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories also recovered, up 11.2% after a 2.9% drop in January. On the other hand, turnover decreased for motor vehicles, parts and accessories (-7.8% vs 15.8%) and optical goods and books (-4.3% vs 12%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade fell by 4.1% in February, the steepest since May 2021 and reversing a downwardly revised 6% gain in the preceding period.

Retail sales in Singapore fell 0.4% year-on-year in January 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 2.5% rise in the previous month and marking the lowest level since February 2025. The decline was broad-based, with department stores (-12.3% vs -3% in December), petrol service stations (-9.7% vs -9.1%), wearing apparel and footwear (-12.9% vs -2.1%), and others (-14.9% vs -10.2%) among the hardest hit. Sales also fell in supermarkets and hypermarkets (-9.7% vs 3.7%), mini-marts and convenience stores (-2.7% vs 6.7%), and cosmetics, toiletries, and medical goods (-0.4% vs 0.2%), reversing gains from the previous month. Moreover, sales growth in computer and telecommunication equipment moderated to 14.1% from 18.8%. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales rose 6.1% in January, recovering from a revised 2.7% decline in December, marking the highest level since March 2022.