Retail sales volumes to advance 16.2%
The increasing gap between value and volume growth - from 1.4% in Sep 2010 to 2.6% in December 2010, reflects growing inflationary pressure.
According to DBS, retail sales are on tap today. Values and volumes are expected to advance 19.0% yoy and 16.2% respectively, from 18.5% and 15.9% in December.
Looking ahead, the uptrend in retail sales is expected to hold well into 2Q11. it will be supported by persistent spending strength will be spurred by the wealth effect from a resilient residential property market alongside a tighter labor market. Unemployment rate has fallen to a post-crisis low of 3.8% and may fall further to 3.7% by the end of 1Q11.