Singapore Retail Sales Growth Eases in March

Retail sales in Singapore increased 3% year-on-year in May 2026, slowing from a 5.4% rise in the previous month. The reading marked the weakest annual growth since January, as sales tumbled for food and alcohol (-3.7% vs 0.6% in April) and motor vehicles, parts and accessories (-0.8% vs 10.7%), while department store sales remained in contraction (-3.3% vs -0.4%). Growth also softened across several categories, including supermarkets and hypermarkets (1.1% vs 5.9%), minimarts and convenience stores (1.4% vs 2.7%), petrol service stations (9.5% vs 14.4%), cosmetics, toiletries and medical goods (4.9% vs 6%), wearing apparel and footwear (0.1% vs 5.3%), and optical goods and books (4.6% vs 5.4%). In contrast, sales accelerated for furniture and household equipment (4.5% vs 1.8%) and recreational goods (23.6% vs 13.7%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity slipped 2.3% in May, reversing an upwardly revised 0.4% increase in the previous month.

Retail sales in Singapore rose by 5.4% year-on-year in April 2026, accelerating from a downwardly revised 4.6% increase in the previous month. This marked the third consecutive month of growth in retail activity, largely driven by sharply higher sales in petrol service stations (14.4% vs 4% in March), recreational goods (12.3% vs 9.1%), and motor vehicles, parts and accessories (10.7% vs 12.9%). Turnover also increased for clothing and footwear (7.8% vs 3.7%) and supermarkets and hypermarkets (5.8% vs 2.6%), while activity declined less in department stores (-1.1% vs -5.5%). In contrast, sales growth significantly softened for computer and telecommunications equipment (2.8% vs 14.7%), while revenues decreased sharply for other goods (-6.6% vs 0%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity grew by 0.3% in April, easing from a downwardly revised 3.4% gain in the preceding period.

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.