Retail sales extend gains with 4.6% rise in June

Online sales rose 11.6% to $3b, accounting for 9.4% of total retail spending.

Retail sales rose 4.6% year on year (YoY) to $31.5b in June, marking the 14th consecutive monthly increase, according to Census & Statistics Department (C&SD).

The value of retail sales in the first half of 2026 was 9.6% higher than a year earlier, whilst retail sales volume—adjusted for inflation—rose 2.3% in June.

Online sales accounted for 9.4% of total retail sales, with the segment rising 11.6% to a provisional estimate of $3b.

“The value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts increased 20.1% in June 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier,” C&SD said.

Segments such as electrical goods (+11.3%), consumer goods “not elsewhere classified” (+9.3%), furniture and fixtures (+5.1%), books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+2.6%), food, alcoholic drinks, and tobacco (+2.5%), and optical items (+2.1%) posted gains.

Clothing (0.8%) and medicines and cosmetics (0.6%) also recorded modest increases.

The value of sales of commodities in supermarkets dropped 1.1% YoY, followed by footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-1.4%), department stores (-4.2%), motor vehicles and parts (-4.3%), Chinese drugs and herbs (-4.9%), and fuels (-15.3%).

“Looking ahead, it said that the continuing economic expansion, rising local incomes and a steady increase in inbound visitors are expected to provide support to the sector,” the department said.