The run-up to Christmas helped boost sales in the retail sector by 4.7 percent, the latest figures have revealed.

Shoppers spent a total of $87.7 million in November - with most of the major sectors seeing an increase in sales.

Only service stations and liquor stores bucked the upward trend, with motor vehicle sales leading the say with a 27.6 percent increase in business.

In contrast, service stations recorded the biggest drop in sales, down 7.1 percent.

Residents who shopped overseas declared more than $6 million at Customs during the month - which pushed overall spending to nearly $92 million in November.

Residents, however, spent less overseas in November than the same month the previous year, down nine percent.

The retail sales index said that, after adjusting for the annual retail sales rate of inflation - 0.8 percent in November - the volume of retail sales jumped by 3.7 per cent.

Sales of clothes jumped 10.7 per cent year on year - with the Black Friday sale events being credited with helping to fuel the increase.

Food sales went up by 3.5 percent - partly due to a 2.5 percent increase in food prices, while liquor sales fell slightly, down 0.4 percent compared to November 2012.

Building materials saw a slight rise in demand, up 0.2 percent, which was put down to higher sales for finishing supplies like paint and tiles.

The slump in service station sales was attributed to a 4.7 percent fall compared to November last year.

Gross receipts for tourist-related stores went up by 19 percent. while furniture, appliance and electronics logged a 3.0 percent increase.

Sales for boat and marine retailers also went up, although pharmaceutical sales fell by 1.5 per cent.