Retailers in Singapore saw their takings fall 5.9 per cent in September over a year ago, dragged down by slower sales of cars and telecommunications apparatus and computers.

Sellers of motor vehicles as well as telecommunications apparatus and computers reported declines in takings of 26.3 per cent and 13.4 per cent respectively, compared with the same month last year.

However, September's car sales saw a pickup of 19.1 per cent over the previous month, marginally boosting overall retail sales by 0.5 per cent. Excluding motor vehicle sales, overall retail takings fell 2.5 per cent in September compared with August.