Retailers see higher December sales
Retailers saw their inflation-adjusted sales rise in December, last year’s busiest sales month.
Total local sales amounted to an estimated $124.1 million, up 3.3 per cent from December 2024, with inflation-adjusted sales volume up 0.9 per cent.
Excluding Sundays, there were 25 shopping days, one more than in December 2024.
After adjusting for a 2.4 per cent rate of retail sales inflation, four out of seven sectors in the Retail Sales Index experienced year-over-year increases in their sales volume.
The “all other stores” sales category which includes furniture, boats, appliances and pharmacy sales, saw the biggest volume increase of 5.9 per cent, followed by building supplies with an increase of 3.3 per cent. Food stores saw a rise of 1.6 per cent in the amount of goods sold, while service stations saw a modest jump of 0.7 per cent.
Meanwhile motor vehicle sales saw the biggest decrease in sales volume — 4.9 per cent, trailed by a 3.7 per cent dip in liquor sales.
Apparel stores’ sales volume fell 2.2 per cent during the Christmas season.
Courier imports leapt by $1.8 million in December to $21.8 million, mainly due to an increase in the importation of medicines, condoms and napkin liners for incontinent adults.
Imports by households via sea increased by $1.5 million to $13.7 million, because of an increase in the importation of ships, boats and floating structures, furniture and furnishings, lamps and lighting fittings and prefabricated buildings, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances and parts thereof, as well as toys, games and sports items.
Declarations at the airport by returning residents decreased $0.2 million to $7 million.
Imports via the Bermuda Post Office increased $0.1 million to $0.7 million.
• Read the RSI report under Related Media
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