Singapore’s F&B sales growth slows down in May

Restaurants' sales were up 89.5%.

Singapore’s total food and beverage sales rose 46.4% year-on-year to S$617 million, slower compared to April's 73.8% increase, according to a Singapore Department of Statistics release.

The positive annual growth was similarly credited to the low base a year ago, when dining-in was not allowed for the whole month.

Restaurants' sales were up 89.5%, followed by cafes, food courts and other eating places at 54.4%, and fast food outlets at 37.2%.

However, food caterers' takings declined 52.3%, as May 2020 had seen higher demand for catered meals from foreign worker dormitories.

Last May, dining-in was allowed until Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures were implemented, resulting in a 14.1% fall on a month-on-month seasonally adjusted basis.