Retail sales continued to trend upwards in January, with a year-on-year improvement of 2.6 per cent.

The month’s total sales were an estimated $77.2 million compared with $75.3 million during the same month in 2014.

After adjusting for the annual retail sales rate of inflation, which was 0.6 per cent in January, the volume of retail sales increased by 1.9 per cent.

Sales attributed to building material stores recorded the largest growth, going up 10.5 per cent.

However, retailers of service stations registered a decrease of 12.5 per cent. This was the third consecutive month that service station retailers have seen receipts drop and it is attributable to the fall in the price in fuel, which offset a 2.7 per cent increase in sales volume.

More cars and motorcycles were sold than during the same period last year, however, motor vehicle stores’ receipts fell 5.3 per cent due to less trucks being sold during the month.

Declared overseas spending was $4.4 million, up from $4.2 million in January 2014.