Singapore December Retail Sales Fall More Than Expected Despite Population Growth

RTTNews, 15 Feb 2013
Singapore retail sales declined more than expected in December, largely due to a sharp contraction in automobile turnover, data from the Department of Statistics showed Wednesday.
Retail sales were down by a seasonally adjusted 2.4 percent month-on-month, steeper-than last month's 0.9 percent fall and an expected decrease of 0.6 percent. Full story

Singapore's retail sales fell in July

Xinhua, 14 Sep 2012
SINGAPORE, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's retail sales in July fell by 2.9 percent year on year, while sales of food and beverage increased by 1.6 percent, the Department of Statistics said on Friday.
The retail sales of motor vehicles in July decreased by 9.7 percent year on year. Excluding motor vehicles, the retail sales went down 0.7 percent year on year. Full story

Carrefour to pull out of Singapore by year end

france24.com, 28 Aug 2012
Carrefour said on Tuesday that it was pulling out of Singapore with the closure of its two existing outlets in the city-state by the end of this year.
"Carrefour Singapore announces the decision to close its Suntec and Plaza Singapura stores before end of 2012, since expansion and growth perspectives do not allow reaching a leadership position in the medium and long term," the retailer said in a statement. Full story

Related:
Carrefour to close 2 outlets in Singapore by year end - Global Times
Carrefour to shut Singapore stores by year-end - Malaysia Star
Carrefour to shut Singapore operations by end-year - MarketWatch
Carrefour to shut Singapore stores by year-end - Reuters India
Carrefour to close down in Suntec City, Plaza Singapura - inSing.com
Carrefour pulling out of Singapore by the end of the year - Taipei Times
Carrefour to shut Singapore stores by year-end - The Malaysian Insider

Singapore Retail Sales Decline On Weak Auto Demand

RTTNews, 15 Aug 2012
(RTTNews) - Singapore's retail sales declined on a sharp contraction in automobile sales in June, reflecting weak economic activity in the second quarter. Nonetheless, the rate of decline slowed more than expected from the previous month.
Retail sales dropped by a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent in June from May, when it fell 2.7 percent, data released by the Department of Statistics showed Wednesday. Economists had expected the decline for June at 0.9 percent. Full story

Singapore April Retail Sales Growth Slows Sharply

RTTNews, 15 Jun 2012
(RTTNews) - Retail sales in Singapore increased at a significantly slower pace in April, and the rate of growth came in far below economists' expectations, data from the Department of Statistics showed Friday.
Retail sales increased 2.2 percent on an annual basis in April, sharply slower than the 8.9 percent growth seen March, which was revised down from 9.1 percent. Economists were looking for a 6.9 percent increase. Full story

Singapore’s Retail Sales Rose More-Than-Estimated 9.1% in March

Bloomberg, 15 May 2012
Singapore’s retail sales grew more than economists estimated in March as consumers increased spending on food, clothing and telecommunication goods.
The retail sales index climbed 9.1 percent from a year earlier after gaining a revised 20.1 percent in February, the statistics department said in a statement today. The median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of 13 economists was for a 7.2 percent increase. Excluding automobiles, retail sales rose 6.5 percent from a year earlier. Full story

Singapore Jan. Retail Sales Rise Unexpectedly

RTTNews, 15 Mar 2012
(RTTNews) - Retail sales in Singapore increased unexpectedly in January, figures from the Department of Statistics showed Thursday.
Sales increased 1.7 percent year-on-year in January, while economists' expectations were for a 1.3 percent decline. This followed a 4.3 percent increase in December Full story

Singapore high fashion moves away from shopping malls

CNNGo.com, 30 Jan 2012
Times they are a-changing. For some of the city's best shopping, you need to hit the streets, estates and financial towers.
From stand-alone big brands on the street to a bespoke cheongsam maker tucked in the heart of the financial district, the latest and hippest Singapore shops are now tucked in all corners of the island. Full story

Singapore Nov retail sales down

Yahoo! News Philippines, 13 Jan 2012
SINGAPORE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Singapore's Department of Statistics released November retail sales data on Friday...Full story

Related:
Singapore Retail Sales Decline Unexpectedly - Nasdaq

NTUC Fairprice to stop selling all shark fin products after disparing remarks by seafood supplier's manager

Asian Scientist, 5 Jan 2012
AsianScientist (Jan. 5, 2012) – In an unprecedented move, Singapore’s largest supermarket chain, NTUC Fairprice, with a network of more than 230 outlets, has promised to remove shark fin products from its inventory by the first quarter of 2012.
On November 17, 2011, an incendiary comment made by the sales manager of Thern Da Seafood Pte. Ltd., Chris Lee Aik Chye sparked an online protest by many conservationists who voiced their concerns on NTUC Fairprice’s Facebook wall.
Lee made disparaging remarks on his Facebook wall directed at divers who were against shark finning, mocking them for being unable to stop his company from supplying NTUC Fairprice with shark fin and Mola mola products in the upcoming Chinese New Year season.
Thern Da is a supplier of shark fin and ocean sun fish (Mola mola) products to NTUC Fairprice. At the time of this publication, Thern Da’s Facebook page has either been deleted or protected from public viewing.
After investigating the matter, NTUC Fairprice today issued a public statement on its Facebook wall, promising to cease the sale of shark fin products by the first quarter of 2012. Full story

Related:
Singapore supermarket taking shark fins off shelves - Times LIVE
FairPrice to stop selling shark’s fin after FB posting outrage - Malaysia Star
Singapore supermarket to stop selling shark’s fin - Borneo Post Online
Singapore supermarket bans shark fins - Sky News Australia
Singapore's FairPrice supermarkets not selling shark fin after Facebook campaign - Examiner.com
Singapore's largest supermarket chain to stop shark fin sales - The China Post

Christmas Crowds Throng Shopping Belt in Singapore

CRIEnglish.com, 26 Dec 2011
The wet monsoon season in Singapore did not stop the crowds from thronging the shopping belt Orchard Road during Christmas, though it makes it a bit cool -- a welcome special weather condition for the local residents.
People thronged the shopping belt Orchard Road on Sunday. The business association and community organizations had decorated the trees and the buildings with lightings in the cool colors of blue and white, making it a bit "cool" for the Christmas. Full story

Singapore Retail Sales Increase Unexpectedly

Nasdaq
(RTTNews.com) - Retail sales in Singapore increased unexpectedly in October, data released by Statistics Singapore showed Thursday.
Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 6.1 percent on a monthly basis in October, compared to the expected 1.2 percent decline. In September, there was a monthly increase of 0.7 percent in sales. Full story

Singapore and India head MasterCard survey on luxury spending

The Moodie Report, 26 Sep 2011
ASIA PACIFIC. Shoppers in Singapore, Japan and India are among the region’s top luxury consumers, according to the findings from the latest MasterCard survey on Consumer Purchasing Priorities – Luxury Shopping.
The MasterCard Index of Consumer Purchasing Priorities provides insights into consumers' savings and expenditure behaviour and their discretionary spending priorities for the 12 months ahead. MasterCard surveys consumers on a broad range of spending categories, including consumer electronics, automotives, fashion and accessories, personal travel, housing, dining and entertainment, fitness and wellness and continuing education. Full story

Strong retail spending in Singapore faces risk

The China Post, 20 Sep 2011
Singapore retail sales held up well in July, growing a faster-than-expected 10.7 percent from a year earlier, thanks to a buoyant job market in the second quarter.
But some analysts are uncertain if the pace of growth can be sustained as falling stock prices take a toll on consumer sentiment.
“Consumption in Singapore is the most sensitive to changes in equity prices in Asia,” wrote Citigroup analyst Kit Wei Zheng in a research note. Full story

Singapore Retail Sales Rise More Than Expected In July

RTTNews, 15 Sep 2011
(RTTNews) - Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.1 percent month-on-month in July, compared to an upwardly revised 1.7 percent increase in the previous month. Economists were looking for a 1 percent increase.
Excluding motor vehicles, there was a 1.3 percent rise in sales. Retail sales at department stores and supermarkets rose 2.1 percent each from the previous month. Automobile sales climbed 4.8 percent monthly. Full story

Singapore Retail Sales Rise on Employment

Bloomberg, 15 Aug 2011
Singapore’s retail sales growth accelerated in June as an expanding job market encouraged purchases of luxury goods, telephones and computers.
The retail sales index rose 10.9 percent from a year earlier after climbing a revised 9.6 percent in May, the Statistics Department said in a statement today. The median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of nine economists was for an 11 percent gain.
Tourists are visiting the city in record numbers, drawn by Genting Singapore Plc and Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s casino complexes on the island, which include shopping malls, hotels and restaurants. Full story

Related:
Singapore Retail Sales Growth Quickens More Than Expected - RTTNews

Singapore Retail Sales Decline In May

RTTNews, 15 Jul 2011
(RTTNews) - Singapore's retail sales decreased in May, after recording strong growth in the previous month, data released by Statistics Singapore showed Friday.
Retail sales dropped a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent month-on-month in May, reversing the 6 percent increase recorded in April, which was revised up from 5.7 percent. Economists were looking for a 1.7 percent monthly decline. Excluding motor vehicles, there was a 0.8 percent fall in sales. Full story

Govt to invest $84m to help firms boost service

Yahoo! Singapore News, 12 Jul 2011
The government is set to invest $84 million over the next five years in programmes to help companies boost their customer service.
Initiatives to be supported would include sending workers for advanced training-service courses or adopting new work practices to drive up productivity. Full story

Singapore Apr Retail Sales Up 5.7%, Above Forecast

RTTNews, 15 Jun 2011
(RTTNews) - Singapore retail sales grew strongly in April, latest figures from Statistics Singapore showed Wednesday.
The seasonally adjusted sales rose 5.7 percent month-on-month following a revised 4.6 percent increase in the previous month. Economists were looking for a meager 1 percent rise. The March figure was revised down from 4.7 percent reported earlier. Full story

Related:
Retail Sales in Singapore Hit a New High - Live Trading News

Singapore Retail Sales Continue To Fall In February

RTTNews, 15 Apr 2011
(RTTNews) - Singapore retail sales declined again in February due to a sharp fall in motor vehicle sales, official data showed Friday.
Retail sales dropped unexpectedly by 3.6 percent month-on-month in February at current prices, following a revised 2.5 percent drop in January, the Department of Statistics said. Economists were expecting an increase of 1.6 percent. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales were down 0.1 percent. Full story