Retail sales rise 5.4% in April

Total retail sales reached $4.3b, with online sales accounting for 15.4% of the total.

Total retail sales rose 5.4% YoY in April 2026, extending the 4.6% growth recorded in March, according to the Department of Statistics.

Excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories, retail sales increased 4.5% year-on-year, following a 3.0% rise in the previous month.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, retail sales grew 0.3% in April. Excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories, sales rose 0.4% from March.

The estimated total retail sales value in April stood at $4.3b. Online retail sales accounted for 15.4% of total retail sales, slightly lower than the 15.6% recorded in March.

Excluding motor vehicles, parts and accessories, retail sales value was about $3.6b, with online sales making up 18.2%.

Most retail industries recorded year-on-year sales growth in April. Petrol service stations posted the strongest increase at 14.4%, mainly due to higher petrol prices.

This was followed by recreational goods at 12.3%, motor vehicles, parts and accessories at 10.7%, wearing apparel and footwear at 7.8%, and cosmetics, toiletries and medical goods at 6.2%.

Sales also increased for supermarkets and hypermarkets, watches and jewellery, optical goods and books, computer and telecommunications equipment, mini-marts and convenience stores, and furniture and household equipment.

However, sales declined for department stores by 1.1%, food and alcohol by 0.1%, and other retail categories by 6.6%.

Among selected industries, online sales accounted for 58.8% of sales in computer and telecommunications equipment, 33.1% in furniture and household equipment, and 13.0% in supermarkets and hypermarkets.

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