Malaysia's retail sales fall 19.7% in Q4

The latest Malaysia Retail Report released by the Malaysian Retail Group showed that Malaysia 's retail sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 ( October to December ) fell 19.7% from the same period last year after the implementation of the second conditional movement control order in the Klang Valley on October 14 , 2020, with the Klang Valley accounting for 60% of the retail sales in Malaysia .

The report said that as of the end of 2020 , all states except Sarawak were affected by the Movement Control Order and retail sales continued to decline . The report said that generally speaking, the fourth quarter should be a period of strong growth for sellers due to the year-end holidays, Christmas shopping and back-to-school shopping .

However, due to the outbreak of the third wave of the epidemic , restrictions between states and districts , working and studying from home becoming people's daily routine, and delayed return of students to school have led to a significant decrease in customer flow in shopping malls, commercial centers and restaurants across Malaysia .

Tan Hai Hsin , managing director of Malaysia Retail Group, said on the Malaysian Retail Report : “ The report is based on a survey of Malaysian Retailers Association (MRA) members for the past 23 years , after incorporating findings from a survey of Malaysian Retail Chain Association (MRCA) members, which found an increase in the number of retailers .

The increase in the number of retailers means that new industries are constantly emerging , including convenience stores , furniture decoration, home decoration , cafes and restaurants , etc. Among them, the most affected industry is fashion and accessories, with retail sales falling by 49.6%.

Another sector that was badly hit was department stores , where sales fell 44.7 per cent , the Malaysian Retail Report showed .

In addition, other retail categories also declined : baby and child products fell by 28.2%, department stores fell by 26.8%, large supermarkets fell by 19.6%, food and beverage outlets ( cafes and restaurants ) fell by 18.8%, catering ( convenience stores and stalls) fell by 14.9%, and medicines and personal care fell by 11.7% .

But it is worth noting that at least two retail sub-sectors have achieved growth. The home decoration industry and the small convenience store industry are both on an upward trend , which cannot be ignored.

Malaysia

Retail Sales