Statistics Department said yesterday.

The gains in sales were driven by a 19 percent increase in car and gas sales compared to October last year.

The total value of retail sales for the first ten months of this year was estimated at $426.7 million, a 2.4 percent increase in real terms after adjusting for the annual inflation rate of two percent.

Stores in the general category recorded increased sales of about ten percent in real terms compared to October last year.

"There was strong local demand for clothing,'' the Statistics Department stated. "Jewellery, accessories and leather goods were also up sharply and this was due primarily to special sales held during the month.