Malaysia’s Wholesale & Retail Trade recorded sales value of RM142.5 billion, increased 6.7 per cent year-on-year in August 2023. Meanwhile, for month-on-month comparison, sales value grew 2.0 per cent.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in its release of Performance of Wholesale & Retail Trade, August 2023 today (Oct 13 cited the increase of 6.7 per cent year-on-year for Wholesale & Retail Trade in August 2023 was attributed to Wholesale Trade sub-sector, which rose 6.2 per cent or RM3.7 billion to register RM63.9 billion.
Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin said: “Retail Trade also expanded by registering 6.3 per cent or RM3.6 billion to RM60.5 billion, followed by Motor Vehicles with an increase of 9.7 per cent or RM1.6 billion to settle at RM18.1 billion.”
Meanwhile, the 2.0 per cent or RM2.8 billion increase from the previous month was contributed by Motor Vehicles with an increase of RM1.2 billion or 7.1 per cent. Within the same period, Retail Trade recorded a positive growth of 1.4 per cent or RM0.9 billion, while Wholesale Trade rose 1.2 per cent or RM0.8 billion as compared to last month.
Looking at the performance across sub-sectors, the Chief Statistician said: “The growth of 6.2 per cent year-on-year in Wholesale Trade was attributed to Other Specialised Wholesale which rose RM1.5 billion or 6.2 per cent to RM25.0 billion. This was followed by Wholesale of Food, Beverages & Tobacco (8.1%), Wholesale of Household Goods (5.4%), Wholesale of Agricultural Raw Materials & Live Animals (7.9%), Non-specialised Wholesale Trade (6.3%), Wholesale on a Fee or Contract Basis (10.3%), and Wholesale of Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (1.0%). For monthly comparison, Wholesale Trade rose 1.2 per cent, mainly attributable to Other Specialised Wholesale (1.8%), Wholesale of Household Goods (2.2%), and Wholesale of Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (1.1%).”
He added the Retail Trade sub-sector saw an increase of 6.3 per cent year-on-year in this month was supported by Retail Sales in Non-specialised Stores which grew 9.2 per cent or RM1.9 billion to RM23.0 billion. Other groups in this sub-sector also recorded positive growth namely Retail Sales in Specialised Stores (5.7%), Retail Sales of Automotive Fuel (8.9%), Retail Sales of Food, Beverages & Tobacco (13.3%), Retail Sales of Household Goods (1.9%), Retail Sales in Stalls & Market (7.1%), Retail Sales of Cultural & Recreation Goods (0.5%), and Retail Sales Not in Stores, Stalls or Market (1.3%).
For month-on-month comparison, sales of this sub-sector edged up 1.4 per cent, supported by Retail Sales in Non-specialised Stores (1.3%), Retail Sales in Specialised Stores (2.4%), and Retail Sales of Automotive Fuel (2.3%).
Mohd Uzir added “The year-on-year growth of 9.7 per cent for Motor Vehicles sub-sector in this month was fueled by Sales of Motor Vehicles Parts & Accessories which accelerated 20.7 per cent or RM0.8 billion to record RM4.7 billion. This was followed by Sales of Motor Vehicles (6.2%) and Maintenance & Repair of Motor Vehicles (21.6%). For monthly comparison, this sub-sector rose 7.1 per cent, driven by Sales of Motor Vehicles (13.2%), Sales of Motor Vehicles Parts & Accessories (1.6%), and Maintenance & Repair of Motor Vehicles (1.8%).”
For index of retail sale over the internet, the index recorded 1.0 per cent growth year-on-year in August 2023 as compared to 0.4 per cent in July 2023. For seasonally adjusted value, the index went up 3.9 per cent as against the previous month.
In terms of volume index, Wholesale & Retail Trade for August 2023 registered a year-on-year growth of 5.0 per cent. The expansion was attributed to all sub-sectors namely Motor Vehicles (8.7%), Wholesale Trade (6.1%), and Retail Trade (3.8%). For seasonally adjusted volume index, it went down -0.03 per cent month-on-month.
