KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 — Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade volume index registered a 9.5 per cent growth year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023 (1Q 2023), said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin attributed the increase to the retail trade sub-sector, which rose 14.7 per cent, followed by motor vehicles and wholesale trade, which increased 11.4 per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively.
“For quarter-on-quarter comparison, the volume index inched up 0.4 per cent, supported by motor vehicles which grew 3.2 per cent,” he said in a statement today.
On the performance across sub-sectors, Mohd Uzir said the retail trade volume index recorded a 14.7 per cent growth, contributed by retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores with 40.0 per cent.
“This was followed by the retail sales of other goods in specialised stores (22.9 per cent) and retail sales in non-specialised stores (18.8 per cent).
“However, 1Q 2023’s retail trade volume index went down 0.8 per cent compared to the previous quarter,” he said.
The 11.4 per cent increase in the volume index of motor vehicles was attributed to sales of motor vehicles, while sales of motor vehicles parts and accessories grew 13.7 per cent and 12.4 per cent, respectively.
“Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles also registered an increase with a growth of 12.3 per cent. For quarter-on-quarter performance, the volume index of motor vehicles climbed 3.2 per cent as compared to the previous quarter,” Mohd Uzir said.
The wholesale trade sub-sector volume index recorded a 3.5 per cent growth in 1Q 2023 compared to the same quarter in 2022.
“For quarter-on-quarter comparison, the volume index of wholesale trade rose 1.1 per cent. As for the seasonally adjusted volume index, wholesale and retail trade increased by 3.6 per cent compared to 4Q 2022.
“Motor vehicles and wholesale trade sub-sectors recorded a growth of 7.2 per cent and 5.4 per cent, respectively,” he added.
— Bernama
