The value of total retail sales in September, provisionally estimated at $35.2 billion, was down 6.4% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the volume of total retail sales dropped 3.1% year-on-year.
The sales value of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts fell 22.9%. This was followed by commodities in department stores (-5.1% in value), apparel (-12.3%), and medicines and cosmetics (-0.6%).
The sales value of commodities in supermarkets increased 1.7%, followed by food, alcohol and tobacco (+22.8%).
The department said the year on year decline in September's retail sales reflected weakening inbound tourism, and the spillover of heightened stock market volatility during the summer on consumer sentiment.
Retail sales performance in the near term will still be constrained by weak inbound tourism and the global economic outlook.