Singapore retail sales rise 2.7% in December, easing from November surge

SINGAPORE — Retail sales in Singapore rose 2.7% year on year in December 2025, moderating from a 6.2% increase in November, data released by the Singapore Department of Statistics on Feb. 5 showed.

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales grew 1.7% in December, following a 5.7% expansion in November.

The estimated total retail sales value in December was S$4.8 billion.

Singapore retail sales supported by gains across most industries

More than half of industries within the retail trade sector recorded higher sales from a year earlier in December.

Recreational goods registered the strongest year-on-year growth at 13.4%, while the computer and telecommunications equipment segment rose 12.8%.

Declines led by petrol stations and food-and-alcohol retailers

Not all categories reported growth. Petrol service stations posted a 9.1% year-on-year fall in sales in December, while retailers of food and alcohol recorded a 7.1% decline.

Online share falls after major November shopping events

Online retail sales accounted for an estimated 14.8% of total retail sales in December, down from 17% in November, a month that included major online shopping campaigns.

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales totalled about S$4.1 billion, with online transactions making up 17% of the total.

Online sales remained most prominent in the computer and telecommunications equipment segment, where they accounted for 56.5% of total sales. They made up 33.4% of sales for furniture and household equipment, and 11.7% for supermarkets and hypermarkets.

Second-half performance stronger on labour market and transfers

DBS economist Chua Han Teng said retail sales performed better in the second half of 2025, rising 4.3% year on year, compared with 1.1% growth in the first half.

He attributed the stronger performance in the second half to healthy labour market conditions and supportive fiscal transfers, including SG60 and CDC vouchers.