Question

Ms Hazel Poa: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Ministry tracks rental costs as a percentage of total business costs for food establishments in (i) hawker centres (ii) coffeeshops that are owned by HDB (iii) HDB coffeeshops owned privately (iv) food courts and (v) restaurants; and (b) if so, what is this percentage for the year 2000, 2010, 2019 and 2020.

Written Answer by Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong

1. The Department of Statistics publishes data on the share of rental costs in total business costs in the food and beverage services sector. A further breakdown of the sector is not available. The National Environment Agency (NEA) compiles data on the business costs of cooked food stalls in hawker centres managed by NEA and NEA-appointed operators.

2. Data on the rental cost share of firms in the food and beverage services sector for the years 2000, 2010, 2019 and 2020, as well as non-subsidised cooked food stalls in hawker centres for the years 2019 and 2020[1] are provided in Table 1.

Table 1. Rental Costs as a Percentage of Total Business Costs for the Food & Beverage Services Sector and Selected Food Establishments in Selected Years

Sources: DOS, NEA

Note: Data for the food and beverage services sector excludes hawkers and stall holders.