Shops selling clothes and electronic goods saw sales drop in October -- and Government economists believe a sharp increase in foreign purchases could be to blame.

Residents returning from trips declared almost 16 percent more in October than they did in the same month last year -- a total of $1.82 million worth of goods.

The losses in clothes and electronics sales contributed to a 2.5 percent decline in sales in local general stores.

Overall, however, the value of local sales in October rose two percent compared to the same month last year.

The rise was largely due to motorists splashing out on petrol, new cars and bikes.

Car dealers and gas stations took more than 25 percent than they did in October, 1992.

Liquor store sales increased 1.2 percent while food sales went up by half of one percent.