KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sales value increased 7.7 per cent in April 2018 to RM99.9 billion compared with the corresponding period in 2017.
In a statement today, the Department of Statistics (DoS) said the sales value consisted of wholesale trade (RM48.6 billion), retail trade (RM39.2 billion) and motor vehicle (RM12.1 billion) businesses.
“The positive growth was contributed by the retail trade and wholesale trade sectors, which grew by 8.0 per cent and 7.7 per cent respectively,” it said in its ‘Volume Index of Wholesale & Retail Trade, April 2018’ released here today.
Volume index of wholesale and retail trade rose 6.5 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to 159.9 points in April, supported by the increase in wholesale trade (6.9 per cent).
“Seasonally adjusted volume index of wholesale and retail trade also increased by 1.3 per cent compared to March 2018,” it added.
DoS said wholesale trade volume index grew 6.9 per cent to 171.5 points y-o-y, and recorded a positive growth of 0.3 per cent month-on-month (m-o-m).
“Sales value of wholesale trade grew 7.7 per cent to RM48.6 billion y-o-y, but registered a negative growth of 4.0 per cent m-o-m,” it added.
The volume index for retail business rose 6.2 per cent y-o-y to 162.9 points, while its seasonally adjusted volume index increased by 0.7 per cent m-o-m.
The department said retail trade increased in sales value to RM39.2 billion or 8.0 per cent y-o-y, and registered a negative growth of 4.1 per cent m-o-m.
“Meanwhile, sales value of motor vehicles recorded positive growth of 6.6 per cent y-o-y to RM12.1 billion. Its volume index also showed a positive growth of 5.8 per cent y-o-y to 122.2 points,” it added.