Fuel sales fell 7.2% on the month in February, while non-food sales were down 5%, the data showed. Sales of food, drinks and tobacco increased 2.9% on the month.
The data are adjusted for the number of working days and seasonal factors.
In annual terms, adjusted retail sales advanced 3% in February, fueled by a 7.2% increase in food and tobacco sales, INS said.
Non-food sales declined 0.9% on the year in February, while fuel sales nudged down 0.1%.
In unadjusted data, retail sales fell 1.7% in February from a month earlier, but were up 1.3% compared with the same month of 2011.