Wholesale and retail trade sales rise 3.9pc in first quarter

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sales expanded 3.9 per cent year-onyear in the first quarter, said the Statistics Department.

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said this was supported by the motor vehicle sub-sector, which rose 8.8 per cent, and retail and wholesale trade, which increased by 5.1 and 1.2 per cent, respectively.

“On a quarter-on-quarter comparison, volume index increased 0.7 per cent, supported by retail trade’s 3.2 per cent growth.”

The expansion of the motor vehicle volume index was contributed mainly by sales of motor vehicle parts and accessories, and maintenance and repair of motor vehicles with growth of 18.5 and 16.5 per cent, respectively, followed by motor vehicle sales (9.1 per cent increase), said the report.

Mohd Uzir said motorcycle sales, maintenance and repair, however, slipped 14.1 per cent.

On a quarterly basis, the motor vehicle volume index fell 0.9 per cent versus the preceding period, said the statement.

It added that the 5.1 per cent increase in the retail trade volume index was due to 26.3 per cent increase in non-stores retail sales, followed by non-specialised stores retail sale (+11.1 per cent), retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores (+11.0 per cent), and food, beverages and tobacco sales (+6.6 per cent).

Volume index of retail trade climbed 3.2 per cent quarter-onquarter.

As for wholesale trade, the volume index recorded a growth of 1.2 per cent in the first quarter from the same period a year ago.

This was contributed by agricultural raw materials and live animals (+8.4 per cent), food, beverages and tobacco (+4.6 per cent), household goods (+3.3 per cent) and machinery, equipment and supplies (+2.7 per cent).

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, wholesale trade volume index fell 1.5 per cent, said the statement.

Seasonally adjusted, the wholesale/retail trade volume index increased by 5.2 per cent quarteron-quarter.

“All sub-sectors recorded a positive growth, with 5.9 per cent for retail trade, 5.0 per cent for motor vehicle and 2.8 per cent for wholesale trade,” he said.