March Wholesale, Retail Trade Sales Value Expands 5.4 Per Cent

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- The value of Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sales rose 5.4 per cent to RM109.3 billion in March 2019 compared with the same period last year, says the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the increase was due to retail trade, which expanded 6.9 per cent. “For wholesale trade, the sales value recorded an annual growth of 5.0 per cent while motor vehicles expanded 1.8 per cent,” he said in a statement today. Mohd Uzir said the sales performance of wholesale and retail trade in the month under review also rose 5.7 per cent versus February 2019. He said all sub-sectors experienced positive growth, especially motor vehicles which rebounded to 16.0 per cent growth after a contraction of 11.7 per cent a month ago. “The surge was driven by double-digit growth in motor vehicle sales of 22.7 per cent, and sales, maintenance and repair of motorcycles of 14.6 per cent,” he said. In terms of volume index, Mohd Uzir said the wholesale and retail trade recorded a 5.1 per cent growth compared with the previous corresponding month. “The gain was propelled by retail trade with a 7.4 per cent growth. “This was followed by wholesale trade and motor vehicles which grew 3.4 per cent,” he said. -- BERNAMA