-- The sales value of Malaysia's wholesale and retail trade rose 5.3% annually to 156.3 billion ringgit in February, according to data released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia on Friday.
The growth was driven by a 7.7% increase in retail trade and a 5.7% rise in wholesale trade.
Monthly, the sales value declined by 2.2%, the data showed.
In terms of volume index, wholesale and retail trade expanded 4.4% annually to 164.2 points. The increase was supported by a 6.2% rise in wholesale trade and a 5.4% growth in retail trade.
Monthly, the volume index fell 1.8%, dragged by 11% decline in motor vehicles, a 1.4% drop in wholesale trade, and a 0.3% decrease in retail trade.