Wholesale, retail trade sales rise to RM97.3 billion in February
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sales value increased 7.5 per cent in February 2018 to RM97.3 billion compared with the previous corresponding period in 2017.
In a statement yesterday, the Department of Statistics (DoS) said the sales value consisted of wholesale trade (RM47.6 billion), retail trade (RM39.2 billion) and motor vehicle business (RM10.5 billion).
It said the positive growth was contributed by the retail trade and wholesale trade sectors, which grew 9.2 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively.
The volume index of wholesale and retail trade rose 7.1 per cent to 158.0 points in February 2018 from the corresponding period in February 2017, it added.
This was supported by an increase in retail trade (8.1 per cent) and wholesale trade (7.9 per cent) during the period under review, it said in its Volume Index of Wholesale & Retail Trade, February 2018 released yesterday.
The DoS said the seasonallyadjusted volume index of wholesale and retail trade increased 0.8 per cent versus the preceding month.
“Volume index of wholesale trade grew 7.9 per cent year-onyear to 165.9 points in February 2018, while on a month-on-month basis the volume index (seasonally adjusted) recorded positive growth of 0.6 per cent from January 2018.
“The sales value of wholesale trade business registered 7.5 per cent growth to RM47.6 billion as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. On a month-on-month basis, this business registered negative growth 4.4 per cent,” it added.
The department said for retail business, the volume index rose 8.1 per cent to 165.9 points in February 2018 compared with the same month in 2017. Compared with January 2018, the seasonally adjusted volume index increased 1.0 per cent.
“The motor vehicle volume index grew 0.5 per cent to 117.1 points in the month under review and the seasonally adjusted volume index of motor vehicles increased 0.7 per cent in February 2018 versus January 2018,” it said. — Bernama