Import-export business receipts slipped 7%

But other industries recorded increase.

According to the Census & Statistics Department, almost all the major service industries’ business receipts showed year-on-year increases of different magnitudes in the first quarter.

Banking industry business receipts increased by 26.6%. Amongst the major service industries recording decreases in business receipts, the import-export trade registered a decrease of 7%.

Double-digit increases were recorded in the business receipts of the banking (+17.8%); insurance (+17.3%); courier (+16.4%); retail (+13.9%); and accommodation services (+11.3%) industries.

Tourism, convention and exhibition services business receipts rose 15.2%, while those of the computer and information technology services domain grew 5.3%.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, more than half of the major service industries recorded quarter-to-quarter increases in business receipts of different magnitudes in the first quarter.

Comparing the first quarter with the fourth quarter of 2012, tourism, convention and exhibition services business receipts fell 3.1%, while those of the computer and information technology services domain increased 4.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis.