Fuel sales declined 4.7% on the month in February, while non-food and food sales were down 3.8% and 1.5%, respectively. The data are adjusted for the number of working days and seasonal factors.
In annual terms, adjusted retail sales advanced 1.4% in February, supported by higher demand in most sectors, INS data showed.
Non-food sales rose 3.1% on the year in February, while fuel sales inched up 0.2%. Sales of food, drinks and tobacco were unchanged on the year.
In the first two months of 2013, adjusted retail sales were up 1.9% compared with the year-earlier period, again boosted by higher demand in most sectors.
In unadjusted data, retail sales decreased 1.1% in February from a month earlier, but were up 1.8% compared with the same period of 2012.