Hong Kong retail sales up 0.2% in September

Retail sales stood at $28.1b, the Census and Statistics Department reported.

Retail sales in Hong Kong went up by 0.2% to $28.1b in September, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) reported.

After netting out price changes effect, the C&SD noted that the volume of retail sales dropped by 1.5% year-on-year. 

“The value of retail sales reverted to a modest year-on-year growth in September, thanks to the notable increase in sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods,” a government spokesperson said. 

“For the third quarter as a whole, retail sales value increased further by 1.3% year-on-year.”

Read more: Retail sales value slightly dips by 0.1% YoY in August

Of the total amount, online sales accounted for 10.2%. Based on estimates, the value of online retail sales climbed by 27.5%YoY to $2.9b. 

C&SD reported the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 14%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+8.4%); motor vehicles and parts (+26.6%); medicines and cosmetics (+0.5%); fuels (+5.3%); and books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+9.8%).

Decreases were registered in the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets (-1.6%), followed by sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-9.5%); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (-2.1%); commodities in department stores (-17.6%); wearing apparel (-7.5%); furniture and fixtures (-7.5%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-5.4%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-3.3%); and optical shops (-3.5%).