Singapore's retail sales rose 5.4% year on year in April 2026, reaching a total value of S$4.3 billion and exceeding private-sector economist forecasts of 4.4% growth as well as March's revised 4.6% increase [1, 2]. On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail sales edged up by 0.3% month on month in April [1, 2].
Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales still recorded solid growth with a 4.5% year-on-year increase and a 0.4% month-on-month gain in April [1, 2]. The fastest growing retail sectors year on year included petrol service stations, which surged by 14.4%, followed by recreational goods at 12.3%, and motor vehicles, parts and accessories at 10.7% [1, 2].
However, some categories experienced declines. Sales in "others" dropped 6.6%, department stores fell 1.1%, and food and alcohol declined slightly by 0.1% year on year [1, 2]. Food and beverage services in aggregate grew by only 0.4% year on year in April, slowing sharply from March's 2.3% growth [1, 2]. Within this sector, fast-food outlets led growth at 3.2%, while food courts and other eating places declined by 3.6% compared to a year earlier [1, 2].
Online retail sales accounted for around 15.4% of total retail sales in April, roughly in line with March's 15.7% share [1]. Certain categories had notably high proportions of online sales, including computer and telecommunication equipment with 58.8%, furniture and household equipment 33.1%, and supermarkets 13% [1].
The continued growth in retail sales signals sustained consumer demand despite slowing segments and shifts toward e-commerce. The next official retail sales report will follow in May 2026, providing updated figures for the sector's performance.
