to fall.

That's the message from latest Government retail sales statistics, released yesterday.

The figures show that in June, the volume of sales in stores dropped locally for the sixth month running, at 3.8 percent below the level for June last year.

The index for the total value of retail sales fell 1.6 percent, with gross turnover estimated at $46.3 million.

Exceptions to the trend were liquor stores, service stations and motor vehicle dealers, where spending was up.

During June, residents returning from overseas trips declared $1.61 million worth of purchases, 15.8 percent up on last year's value. The rise follows three months of decline.

There were big increases in spending on furniture, appliances, electronic goods, audio and video recordings and photographic equipment.

US TOURIST STOLE HANDBAG CTS US tourist stole handbag An American cruise ship visitor was yesterday fined $150 in Magistrates' Court for stealing a handbag.

Gloria Burke Petronas, 45, of New York State, was shopping in St. George's on Monday afternoon when the incident occurred, said Police prosecutor Insp.

Peter Duffy.

Petronas left Archie Brown's carrying a large green bag. Meanwhile, Bermudian Delores Thompson noticed her handbag was missing and went outside after Petronas, believing she had it, Insp. Duffy said.

Thompson asked to look in her bag, but Petronas refused.

However, she accidentally dropped it and Thompson's handbag fell out. Thompson immediately called the Police and Petronas was taken to the Hamilton Police Station where she denied taking the bag.

But she admitted the offence in court yesterday and Acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. John Judge fined her $300.

Petronas, however, said she could not pay that much because she had spent a lot of money on the cruise ship.

Mr. Judge then lowered the fine to $150.

SOCA CONCERT IN ST. GEORGE'S ENT Soca concert in St. George's Byron Lee, the Jamaican founder of soca, will perform a first-ever concert this Saturday at Penno's Wharf in St. George's.

The concert, which is being organised by promoter Mr. Eddy DeMello, is the first to be performed at the newly renovated wharf.

The Corporation of St. George's yesterday said concert-goers will find plenty of parking at the western end of the wharf and throughout the town.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert are available at the Music Box, the Sound Stage in the Washington Mall, Music World in the Bermudiana Arcade and the Music Chamber in St. George's.

Lee and his band, The Dragoneers, arrive on the Island today. They have just completed a European tour.

ROYAL VISIT VIP Royal visit His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia, who in 1990 bought the Elbow Beach Hotel for more than $200 million, is staying at the South Shore resort this week.

Prince Khalid became a world figure last year as commander-in-chief of the allied forces in the Gulf War.

He is on the Island for a family vacation and to participate in work meetings related to the hotel's expansion.

CYCLIST INJURED AC Cyclist injured An 18-year-old Hamilton Parish woman needed hospital treatment for a fractured ankle after her bike collided with a Toyota Corolla car.

The accident occurred at around 5.30 p.m. on Monday on North Shore Road, at the junction with Green Bay Road, Hamilton Parish.

Driver of the car, a Hamilton Parish woman, was unhurt.