The retail sales index in Singapore rose by 4.8 percent in January this year from a year ago, according to figures released Wednesday by the Singapore Department of Statistics (SDS).

The SDS said that most major retail sectors reported increased sales in January as compared with the same month of last year with sales of food and beverages growing 34 percent, the highest figure among all sectors.

Earnings of sectors including department stores, supermarkets, provision and sundry shops, petrol service stations, wearing apparel and footwear, recreational goods, as well as watches and jewelry, also saw double-digit growths in January.

Retail sales of furniture and household equipment, telecommunications apparatus and computers as well as optical goods and books declined by 1 percent to 3.1 percent in the same month.

The total retail sales value reported an estimated 2.9 billion Singapore dollars (about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars) in the first month of this year.

The catering trade index in January also rose by 4.8 percent over the previous year, and the total value was estimated at 333 million Singapore dollars (about 205 million U.S. dollars).

Source: Xinhua