Hong Kong Business News

The value of total retail sales in July, provisionally estimated at $29.7 billion, was up 1.8% compared with the same month in 2024, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate for the month was 1% higher year on year.

Online sales accounted for 8.7% of the total retail sales figure for the month. Provisionally estimated at $2.6 billion, the value of online retail sales rose 13.2% compared with a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets increased by 0.2%.

There were also increases in the value of sales in the following categories: “other consumer goods not elsewhere classified” (+9.8%); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+9.4%); apparel (+1.3%); medicines and cosmetics (+2.6%); commodities in department stores (+2.6%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+20.5%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (+19.6%).

By contrast, the value of sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco decreased by 3.1% for the period. Also down were sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (-8.2%); motor vehicles and parts (-12.4%); fuels (-10.3%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-7.6%); furniture and fixtures (-9.4%); and optical items (-2.4%).

The Government said retail sales continued to stabilise in July. Looking ahead, it expects that local consumption sentiment should remain steady, and its proactive efforts in promoting tourism and mega events will also benefit retail businesses.