S'pore retail sales up 7.25%

S'pore retail sales up 7.25%

SINGAPORE: Singapore's retail sales index rose 7.2 percent in May from a year earlier, the government said on Thursday, in the latest confirmation of the city-state's robust economic recovery from last year's SARS crisis.

The estimate will add more detail to the picture emerging of a very strong second quarter, when economic growth roared ahead after slumping 12 months ago because of the little-understood bug.

"Most retail activities recorded sales increases, partly due to the low base in May 2003," the statistics department said on Thursday in a statement. -- AP