By Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporter
Retail and food and beverage sales last month hit a record for May, propelled by family gatherings for Mother’s Day, promotion campaigns and new store openings, data released yesterday by the Ministry of Economic Affairs showed.Retail sales climbed 4.9 percent from a year earlier to NT$415.3 billion (US$13.1 billion) last month, meeting the ministry’s forecast of a 3.8 to 6.8 percent increase.Department stores, big-box stores and convenience stores, e-commerce and mail-order operators, home appliance outlets, and fabric and clothing stores were the main drivers of sales during the month, rising from 5 percent to 9.3 percent, the report said.
People gather at a weekend market at Kaohsiung Station on May 30.
Retail fuel sales increased 16.9 percent due to rising crude oil prices, it said.Sales of cars, motorcycles and auto parts fell 0.9 percent year-on-year, but it was a significant improvement compared with previous months and could turn positive this month, driven by the gradual recovery in consumer demand, promotions and new car launches, it said.
Food and beverage sales grew 4.8 percent year-on-year last month to NT$94.7 billion with across-the-board growth at restaurants, beverage outlets and catering service providers, surpassing the ministry’s prediction of a 1 to 4 percent growth, the report said.In the first five months of this year, retail sales reached NT$2.04 trillion, up 3.3 percent year-on-year, while food and beverage sales were NT$464.2 billion, a 4.1 percent increase from a year earlier, it said.The ministry forecast that the retail and food and beverage sectors would continue to post annual sales growth this month, powered by on Dragon Boat Festival shopping and dining opportunities, the surge in sporting events and the mid-year sales promotions. High temperatures would boost demand for cooling and heat relief products, it added.Retail sales this month are projected to show an annual increase of 4 to 7 percent, reaching NT$405.5 billion to NT$417.2 billion, the ministry said.Sales in the food and beverage sector this month are expected to show an annual increase of 4.2 to 7.2 percent to a range between NT$88.9 billion and NT$91.4 billion, it said.
