Colombia's retail sales in January rose 8.8% year-on-year, according to official data released Thursday.
Sales of cars and motorbikes rose 31%, while sales of computers and home appliances rose 24%, according to the National Administrative Department of Statistics, or DANE.
The retail sales increase is the strongest since November 2007, when sales rose 9.1% compared with the same month in 2006.
In December, Colombia's retail sales had expanded 2.7% on year.
Retail sales fell 2.7% in 2009, compared with 2008.
DANE said employment in the retail sector fell 1.7% in January compared with the same year in 2009.
