Indonesia: Retail sales record best reading since May in December
Retail sales expanded 13.8% year-on-year in December (November: +10.8% yoy). The reading marked the best result since May and was largely driven by faster growth in food, beverages, and tobacco sales. In contrast, motor vehicles, parts and accessories sales fell. Lastly, cultural and recreation goods sales contracted at a softer rate, while information and communication equipment sales dipped at a steeper pace than in November.
Meanwhile, the trend improved significantly, with the annual average variation of retail sales coming in at 0.0%, up from November’s minus 2.9% reading and hitting an over one-year high in the process.