Colombia’s retail sales in November 2009 rose 2% year-on-year, according to official data released on Tuesday.
Sales of hardware, glass and paints rose 13% and sales of computers and home appliances rose 12%, while sales of alcohol and cigarettes fell 12% and auto parts sales fell 7.2%, according to the National Statistics Department, or DANE.
The retail sales increase is the strongest since April 2008, when sales rose 2.2% compared with the same month in 2007.
The number was higher than the forecast made by local brokerage Interbolsa, which expected a 0.4% increase.
In October, Colombia’s retail sales expanded 0.8% on year.
Retail sales fell 3.4% in the year through November, compared to the same period in 2008. Sales of cars and motorbikes were down 18%, while sales of shoes, leather goods, computer equipment and domestic goods all registered increases.
DANE said employment in the retail sector fell 3.1% in November on year.
