Retail Sales Value Up 7.1%

The value of total retail sales in January, provisionally estimated at $48.1 billion, rose 7.1% on the same month in 2018, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

 

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the volume of total retail sales increased 6.9% year-on-year.

 

The sales value of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts went up 4.7%.

 

This was followed by sales of medicines and cosmetics (+12.9%); wearing apparel (+2.4%); commodities in department stores (+15.1%); commodities in supermarkets (+8.6%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+13%); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+13.4%); motor vehicles and parts (+9%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+21%); furniture and fixtures (+8.2%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+1.5%); Chinese drugs and herbs (+7.9%); and optical shops (+2.1%).

 

The sales value of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified fell 11%, followed by sales of fuels (-1%).

 

Retail sales increased notably in January over a year earlier, partly lifted by the earlier arrival of the Lunar New Year this year and partly by the surge in visitor arrivals that month.

 

While full employment in the local labour market and the sustained expansion in inbound tourism should provide support to the retail sales business, consumption sentiment will be affected by the unsteady external environment.

 

RECENT NEWS

US Stocks Rise On Hopes Of Pause In Rate Increases

Wall Street stocks finished solidly higher on Thursday, reflecting better sentiment on the US economy and a consensus vi... Read more

China's Financial Risks 'controllable': Regulators

The head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration on Thursday told a high-profile forum in Shanghai that the ... Read more

Banks Cut Yuan Deposit Rates, Could Boost Consumption

China's biggest banks on Thursday said they have lowered interest rates on yuan deposits, in actions that could ease pre... Read more

Cheese And Wine Put EU, Australia Deal In Peril

Australia on Thursday threatened to walk away from a blockbuster free trade deal with the European Union unless its prod... Read more

US Stocks End Mixed As Tech Shares Are Sold Off

Gains by industrial companies lifted the Dow on Wednesday, while weakness among technology shares pushed the Nasdaq deci... Read more

Amazon 'plans Prime Video Streaming Service With Ads'

Amazon.com is planning to launch an advertising-supported tier of its Prime Video streaming service, the Wall Street Jou... Read more