Retail sales in Bermuda fell for the 16th consecutive month, new figures released this morning show.

According to the Retail Sales Index report released by Government consumers bought an estimated $98 million in retail goods, or $7 million less than was spent in the same period last year. 

Lower sales of clothing and fuel were the driving factors behind the year-on-year drop.

The report added: Fewer tourist arrivals and conservative consumer spending also continued to hurt retail sales. After adjusting for the annual retail sales rate of inflation, measured at two percent in July, the volume of retail sales fell by nine percent.

This represented the 16th consecutive month of declines in the volume of sales activity.