The value of total retail sales in August, provisionally estimated at $33.9 billion, was down 10.5% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department reported today.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the volume of total retail sales decreased 12.7% year-on-year.
The sales value of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts fell 26.6%. This was followed by commodities in supermarkets (-0.9% in value); commodities in department stores (-10.7%); wearing apparel (-3.4%); medicines and cosmetics (-0.9%); electrical goods and photographic equipment (-27.9%); motor vehicles and parts (-5.7%); miscellaneous consumer durable goods (-37.8%); fuels (-6.0%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-5.3%); furniture and fixtures (-4.9%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-2.2%); and optical shops (-7.4%).
The sales value of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco increased 8.8%, followed by sales of consumer goods, not elsewhere classified (+2.8%); and books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+1.9%).
The department said the weak performance of retail sales continued in August, reflecting the fall in visitor arrivals and the cautious local consumer sentiment amid an uncertain economic outlook.
The performance of inbound tourism and external uncertainties will continue to affect the near-term outlook for retail sales, it added.
