Singapore's retail sales index up 4.7 pct in February

The retail sales in Singapore rose by 4.7 percent in February 2006 from a year ago, according to the figures released by the Singapore Department of Statistics ( SDS) on Monday.

Retail sectors of telecommunications apparatus and computers, optical goods and books, watches and jewelry, as well as petrol service stations reported double-digit growth in their sales in February over the same month last year.

Earnings of sectors including food and beverages, supermarkets, department stores, recreational goods, provision and sundry shops, and wearing apparel and footwear contracted in February as compared with a year ago.

The total retail sales value reported an estimated 2.07 billion Singapore dollars (about 1.29 billion U.S. dollars) in the second month of this year.

The catering trade index in February rose by 5.8 percent over the previous year, and the total value was estimated at 319 million Singapore dollars (about 199 million U.S. dollars).

Source: Xinhua