Sales of motor vehicles slumped by more than 10 per cent last September compared with the same month in 2022, according to the latest statistics.

Retail sales volumes were down across most sectors during the month but the value of sales increased marginally compared with September 2022 as a result of inflation.

According to a Department of Statistics bulletin, the overall volume of retail sales decreased by 1.6 per cent on the year before.

In value terms, retail sales increased to an estimated $99.5 million, which represented a 1.8 per cent rise in sales value year-on-year.

Car dealers recorded the biggest decrease with sales volume dropping by 10.1 per cent and sales value decreasing by 8.6 per cent.

Sales of alcohol also fell, with volume dropping by 9.3 per cent and value decreasing 5.4 per cent, while the sales volume and value for service stations both decreased 2 per cent.

Sales volume from food stores dipped by 0.5 per cent, but sales value increased by 3.2 per cent. This was partially a result of the 4.4 per cent increase in the cost of food.

But there was positive news for building material merchants and clothing stores.

Sales volume and value in the building sector both increased by 1.4 per cent. The volume of sales for apparel stores grew 5.7 per cent, while value sales increased by 5.5 per cent.

Sales volume for the All Other Stores Types category decreased by 0.5 per cent, but in value terms, sales for this sector increased by 4.7 per cent.

Gross receipts from furniture sales increased 86.8 per cent, while sales for boat and marine supplies increased 14.9 per cent. Sales of miscellaneous goods grew 13.4 per cent, and sales for pharmaceuticals increased by 1.4 per cent. Appliances and electronics sales decreased 8.3 per cent

There was also a sharp drop in purchases made abroad, with overseas declarations decreasing by 10.5 per cent compared with September 2022.

Imports via courier decreased $2.1 million to $10.4 million, which was attributed to fewer purchases of electrical machinery, television image and sound recorders, and parts and accessories of such articles.

Imports to households via sea fell by $0.5 million to $6.4 million, but declarations at the airport by returning residents increased $0.3 million to $4.3 million. Imports via the Bermuda Post Office decreased $0.2 million to $0.3 million.