Retail sales rose 1.9 percent in January over the same period a year ago as consumers spent more on groceries, vehicles, building materials and hardware.

The apparel sector however was alone in bucking the trend, recording a 28.5 percent year-on-year decline due to an inability to make up for the volume of sales previously experienced when Trimingham?s-Smith?s was still open. Most of the larger apparel stores however experienced significant gains in sales revenue for the month due to the absence of the large competitor.

According to figures released by the Department of Statistics, consumer retail spending totalled an estimated $40.4 million in January 2006 or $800,000 more than the $39.6 million spent in January, 2005. The first month of the year is historically the slowest month for local retail sales and even with the year-on-year gain, January, 2006 spending falls far short of 2005?s average monthly spending levels of $53.6 million.

After adjusting for the annual rate of inflation measured at 2.5 percent in January, 2006, the volume of retail sales edged down 0.6 percent.

The January ,2006 index for total retail sales stood at 122.1 index points.

A 3.1 percent rise in the price of food in January contributed to grocery sales advancing 4.2 percent in the month.

Motor vehicle retailers continued to experience double-digit positive sales gains reporting a 13.3 percent increase in retail sales over January 2005. Statisticians said the fourth consecutive month of strong vehicle sales was due primarily to increased stock levels.

Retailing activity in the building and hardware sector rebounded in January with 10.1 percent gain over the same period in 2005.

?High levels of construction activity translated into higher sales for building and hardware vendors who supply construction-related materials,? statisticians said.

Residents returning to the Island from business and vacation trips declared overseas purchases of $4.9 million during the month of January, 2006. This level of spending was roughly $300,000 or 5.6 percent lower than the level of spending reached in January, 2005.

Combined local and overseas retail sales totalled $45.3 million in January, 2006, $400,000 million more than January of last year. Overseas spending represented 10.9 percent of total retail sales in January, the Department of Statistics said.

The Department of Statistics said that an extra day of shopping in January, 2006 contributed to the year-on-year increase in total retail sales for the month.