Sales of food, drinks and tobacco increased 1.7% on the month in October, according to data adjusted for the number of working days and seasonal factors. However, fuel and non-food sales were down 4.2% and 2.7% on the month, respectively.
In annual terms, adjusted retail sales advanced 1.7% in October, supported by higher demand in most sectors, INS data showed.
Non-food sales rose 2.5% on the year in October, while sales of food items increased 0.9%. Fuel sales were down 1.6% on the year.
In the January-October period, adjusted retail sales inched down 0.1% from the year-earlier months.
In unadjusted data, retail sales increased 2.3% in October from a month earlier and were up 2.2% compared with the same period of 2012.