Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said this was the lowest growth recorded this year as the country went into total lockdown amid the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.

The motor vehicles sub-sector suffered the most, plunging 92.4%, or RM11.2 billion, to register only RM900,000 in sales, he said in a statement.

Retail trade dropped 2.9%, or RM1.2 billion, to RM40.6 billion, while wholesale trade grew 3.6%, or RM1.8 billion, to RM50.7 billion.

On a month-on-month comparison, sales value slid 14.8% in June.

The retail trade sub-sector contracted 2.9% as sales in non-specialised stores declined 7.2%, or RM1.1 billion, to RM14.8 billion, the first negative growth this year despite being allowed to operate during the lockdown period.

Retail sales of automotive fuels also tumbled 21.6% to RM2.5 billion, followed by sales declines in specialised stores, food, beverages and tobacco.

However, other groups in the sub-sector recorded positive growth – household goods at 6.6%, retail sale of information and communication equipment 5.5%, cultural and recreation goods 3.7%, retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets 17%; and stalls and markets 2.8%.

On a monthly comparison, retail trade fell 6.4% with all groups in this sub-sector registering negative growth.

The wholesale trade sub-sector grew 3.6% in June, supported by other specialised wholesale trades which jumped 17.2%, or RM3.0 billion, to RM20.2 billion followed by wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals, which expanded 2.9%, or RM0.1 billion, to RM4.6 billion.

Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco declined 9.2% followed by wholesale on a fee or contract basis, which tumbled 22.5%.