Statistics Department: Sales value of motor vehicle up at RM11.4b in January

KUALA LUMPUR: Sales of motor vehicles business rose 3.7% to RM11.4bil in January 2017 from a year ago but it fell 9.4% from December 2016, according to the Statistics Department.

It said year-on-year, the index of motor vehicles increased 2.4% to 122.8 points in January 2017. The seasonally adjusted index of motor vehicles fell 4.7% in January 2017 against December 2016.

Sales of vehicles are part of the sales value of wholesale and retail trade which rose 8% to RM93.6bil in January 2017 from a year ago.

“The sales value consists of wholesale trade (RM46.1bil), retail trade (RM36.1bil) and motor vehicles (RM11.4bil) businesses. The positive growth was contributed by retail trade (9.0%) and wholesale trade (8.4%) businesses,” it said.

The department said the index of wholesale and retail trade which measures the volume changes rose 5.6% to 152.1 points in January 2017 from a year ago. The growth was led by retail trade (7.0%), wholesale trade (5.4%) and motor vehicles (2.4%).

“However, the seasonally adjusted index of wholesale & retail trade decreased 1.5% as compared to the preceding month,” it said.

It said the sales value of wholesale trade business grew 8.4% to RM46.1bil from a year ago. On a monthly basis, sales value of this business increased 0.8%.

The index of wholesale trade rose 5.4% to 159.9 points in January 2017 from a year ago. Month-on-month, the index of wholesale trade (seasonally adjusted) slipped 1.7% from December.

Retail trade business recorded an increase in sales value of RM3bil or 9% on-year but fell 0.1% on-month. The index of retail trade rose 7% to 155.8 points in January 2017 from a month ago. The seasonally adjusted index of retail trade fell 0.6% on-month.