KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sales registered a growth of 3.9 per cent year-on-year (yoy) in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1 2022), said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

       Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the increase was attributed to the motor vehicles

       sub-sector which rose 8.8 per cent, followed by retail and wholesale trade which rose 5.1 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively.

       "On a quarter-on-quarter comparison, volume index increased 0.7 per cent, supported by retail trade which grew 3.2 per cent,” he said in a statement on the wholesale and retail trade volume index for Q1 2022 with 2015 as the base year.

       The expansion of the motor vehicles volume index year-on-year was contributed mainly by sales of motor vehicle parts and accessories, and maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, which posted positive growths of 18.5 per cent and 16.5 per cent, respectively, followed by motor vehicles sales of 9.1 per cent, the report said.

       Mohd Uzir said motorcycles sales, maintenance and repair, however, decreased 14.1 per cent.

       On a quarterly basis, volume index of motor vehicles fell 0.9 per cent versus the preceeding quarter, the statement said.

       The statement said the 5.1 per cent increase in the retail trade volume index was attributed to non-stores retail sales, 26.3 per cent, followed by non-specialised stores retail sale (11.1 per cent), retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores (11.0 per cent), and food, beverages and tobacco sales, 6.6 per cent.

       Volume index of retail trade climbed 3.2 per cent versus the previous quarter.

       Meanwhile, in the area of wholesale trade, the volume index recorded a positive growth of 1.2 per cent in Q1 2022 versus a year ago, contributed by agricultural raw materials and live animals, 8.4 per cent; food, beverages and tobacco, 4.6 per cent; household goods 3.3 per cent, and machinery, equipment and supplies, 2.7 per cent.

       On a quarter-on-quarter comparison, wholesale trade volume index decreased 1.5 per cent, the statement said.

       Seasonally adjusted, the wholesale/retail trade volume index increased 5.2 per cent against the last quarter of 2021.

       "All sub-sectors recorded positive growths, namely retail trade 5.9 per cent, motor vehicles 5.0 per cent and wholesale trade 2.8 per cent,” he said. - Bernama