Retail, food and beverage sales are growing

• Author: Chen Cheng-hui / Staff Reporter

Sales in the retail and food and beverage sectors increased by 1.6%, respectively, last month. and 0.7 percent compared to the previous year, slowing down compared to growth of 1.9%. and 10.5 percent last month, the Ministry of Economy announced yesterday.

Wholesale sector sales rose 16.2 percent annually last month, accelerating from 4.1 percent growth in March, mainly due to strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) technologies, an increase in merchandise exports non-technology and replenishing supplies before Mother’s Day, the ministry said in the report.

The ministry said retail sales and food and beverage sales this month will continue to grow year-on-year, driven by Mother’s Day promotions, seasonal demand for iced drinks and home appliances and the launch of new vehicle models.

Photo: CNA

The ministry also said it expects annual sales growth in the wholesale sector for the third month in a row, given the growing use of AI and HPC applications coupled with demand replenishment in preparation for new business opportunities.

Last month, sales in the retail sector were NT$387.2 billion (US$12.01 billion), the highest sales in April, mainly driven by higher consumption in supermarkets and convenience stores, e-commerce sites, beauty salons, automotive stores and information technology and consumer electronics stores. despite the slowdown in sales in department stores, hypermarkets and clothing stores – we read in the report.

In the first four months of this year, retail sales amounted to NT$1.57 trillion, up 3.2 percent from a year earlier, and are expected to grow 2.5 percent annually to 389, the ministry said. .6 to NT$401.3 billion, the ministry said.

Sales in the food and beverage sector reached NT$80 billion last month as an increase in in-flight meals supported catering services and Grave Cleaning Day boosted family gatherings, even as several food safety incidents affected restaurant sales, such as according to the report.

In the first four months, food and beverage sales rose 5 percent year-on-year to NT$344.1 billion, the ministry said, forecasting sales this month to grow 4.5 percent to 7.5 percent annually to NT$85.2 billion to NT$87.6 billion.

Sales in the wholesale sector amounted to NT$1.06 trillion last month, according to the report, driven by strong demand for machinery, chemical materials, food and tobacco products, medicines and cosmetics.

Cumulative sales in the first four months rose 9.5 percent to NT$4.1 trillion and will grow 10-13 percent annually to NT$1.05 trillion to NT$1.07 trillion this month, the ministry said. ministry.