Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade up 3.8 pct in September

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) — Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sales value increased 3.8 percent year on year to 148.2 billion ringgit (about 34 billion U.S. dollars) in September, according to official data.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement on Thursday that the growth was driven primarily by wholesale and retail trade, which grew 3.6 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively.
The motor vehicles sub-sector, however, recorded a modest contraction of 1 percent.
According to the department, the strong performance of the wholesale and retail trade sub-sectors in September was supported by several external factors including an increase in tourist arrivals.
“Overall, Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sector continues to demonstrate steady performance, driven by sustained consumer confidence and stable economic conditions,” it said. ■