PERFORMANCE OF DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE SECTOR

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

1. Sales Value

The sales value of the Distributive Trade sector for the first quarter 2010 surged by 13.1 per cent year-on-year to register RM91.5 billion. The increase was contributed by double-digit growths registered by all the sub-sectors motor vehicles (15.5 per cent), wholesale trade (13.6 per cent) and retail trade (11.6 per cent).

On a quarterly basis, the sales value of this sector increased by 1.9 per cent. All the sub-sectors posted increases of 5.0, 2.2 and 0.2 per cent respectively.

2. Employment and Salaries & Wages

The number of persons engaged in this sector rose 2.9 per cent to 491,243 persons compared to the same quarter of 2009. Correspondingly, salaries & wages paid also rose to RM3.3 billion or 7.8 per cent. Quarter-on-quarter, the number of persons engaged increased marginally by 0.2 per cent.

3. Productivity

Productivity or average sales value per employee increased 10.0 per cent year-on-year to RM186,323. Productivity increased 1.6 per cent in this quarter as compared to the previous quarter.

WHOLESALE TRADE

1. Sales Value

Sales in the wholesale trade sub-sector in the first quarter 2010 increased 13.6 per cent to RM47.4 billion from a year earlier. The year-on-year growth was led by the Wholesale of household goods, 17.9 per cent, Wholesale of non-agricultural intermediate products, waste and scrap, 16.8 per cent and Wholesale of agricultural raw materials, livestock, food, beverages and tobacco, 9.5 per cent. Quarter-on-quarter, sales rose 2.2 per cent.

2. Employment and Salaries & Wages

The number of persons engaged in this sub-sector increased 1.1 per cent as compared to the corresponding quarter of 2009. Total salaries & wages paid also increased by 7.1 per cent to RM1.2 billion. Quarter-on-quarter, employment and salaries & wages paid dropped marginally by 0.5 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.

RETAIL TRADE

1. Sales Value

The retail trade sub-sector posted a gain of 11.6 per cent to RM32.3 billion from the comparative quarter of the previous year. The main catalyst was the Non-specialised retail trade in stores (such as department stores and supermarkets including hypermarkets) which registered a double-digit growth of 28.4 per cent and Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores 15.9 per cent. On a quarterly basis, sales of this sub-sector increased by 0.2 per cent.

2. Employment and Salaries & Wages

The number of persons engaged in this sub-sector rose 3.1 per cent from a year ago. Similarly, salaries & wages paid out expanded by 9.2 per cent. Quarter-on-quarter, an increase of 0.3 per cent in the number of persons engaged and a 3.0 per cent increase in the salaries & wages disbursed was recorded.

MOTOR VEHICLES

1. Sales Value

Sales in the motor vehicles sub-sector rose 15.5 per cent to RM11.8 billion from a year ago. The increase was posted by the Sales of motor vehicles, 21.4 per cent and Sales of motor vehicle parts and accessories 9.4 per cent. On a quarter-to-quarter basis, sales improved by 5.0 per cent.

2. Employment and Salaries & Wages

Year-on-year, employment in this sub-sector was up 5.1 per cent. Correspondingly, salaries & wages also rose 4.6 per cent. Quarter-on-quarter, employment increased 1.4 per cent while salaries & wages was down 0.1 per cent.