Bermuda’s retail sales volume fell again in January for the 11th successive month of decline, with apparel stores hardest hit by a 22.8 percent volume decrease, when compared to the same period last year.
Motor vehicle sales also dipped by 11.8 percent.
Overall, sales volume fell by 1.3 percent to $85.8 million from $86.9 million in 2018.
Figures released by the Department of Statistics today also show $10.1 million in goods purchased by local residents online.
Returning residents also declared another $4.3 million in goods purchased abroad – that figure is down from the $4.4 million recorded last year.
Additionally, goods delivered to residents via sea were up $0.3 million to $0.8 million, but goods delivered via the post office fell to $0.4 million – down from $0.5 million.
Food and liquor store sales went up by 3.2 percent and 1.9 percent respectively, but after the rate of inflation was taken into account, sales volume for liquor store sales dipped 0.6 percent and the volume of sales in local food stores fell by 0.1 percent.
Service station sales also dropped by 5.4 percent after adjusting for inflation, and building supply sales went down by 0.5 percent.
Businesses selling furniture, electric appliances and other electronic goods went down by 3.2 percent with marine and boat suppliers experiencing the same as sales dipped by 2 percent.
But sales for pharmaceutical drugs went up by 2.6 percent.
With the exception of Sundays, there were 26 shopping days in January, the same as in the same month in 2018.
