May 2015: Retail Sales Index Increases By 1.4%
The total retail sales index was 1.4% higher than the level reached in May 2014, and after adjusting for the annual retail sales rate of inflation, measured at 1.5% in May, the volume of retail sales decreased 0.1%.
The report said that building material stores recorded the largest growth in sales, increasing 9.5%. In contrast, retail sales of motor vehicles registered the largest decrease of 5.4%.
Returning residents declared overseas purchases valued at $5.6 million, 12.0% more than the level recorded in May 2014. This contributed to a combined local and overseas spending of $94.6 million.
The full 2015 May Retail Sales Index is below [PDF here]:
