KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Malaysia's July wholesale and retail trade rose 11.1% to RM96.5 billion from a year earlier, on higher retail and wholesale transactions, besides motor vehicle sales growth.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department said retail and wholesale transactions grew 14.1% and 9.2% respectively, while motor vehicle sales rose 9.8%.

"Sales value of wholesale trade business registered a 9.2% growth to RM45.9 billion, as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. Month-on-month, sales value of this business decreased 2.3%.

"Retail trade business recorded an increase in sales value to RM38.3 billion or 14.1%, as compared to last year. Month-on-month, this business increased 
0.6%. In this month, sales value of motor vehicles business increased 9.8% to RM12.4 billion, as compared to the same month of the preceding year," the department said.