declared purchases of goods valued at $3.09 million -- an increase of 11 percent from last year.

The news came in the monthly retail sales index figures released by the Government Statistics Department.

Other figures showed retail sales volume decreased 1.1 percent for August over the level reached in the previous year.

Motor vehicles and service stations reported the largest increases in August with a 5.9 per cent increase in sales year-over-year.

While gas stations recorded an increase in sales, car dealers reported mixed results with demand for particular vehicles varying.

The statistical department also said the sales in other sectors of the index were flat with the general retail and food sectors logging a 0.8 per cent increase in sales.

Retail outlets catering to the tourism trade sowed mixed results in spite of a 10.3 per cent rise in visitor arrivals for August.

And liquor sales saw a 0.6 per cent drop in sales year-over-year.