The value of total retail sales in September, provisionally estimated at $31.3 billion, was up 5.9 % 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 4.8% higher year-on-year.

Online sales accounted for 12.5% of the total retail sales figure for the month. Provisionally estimated at $3.9 billion, the value of online retail sales rose 27.3 % compared with a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 31.3 %.

There were also increases in the value of sales in the following categories: supermarkets (+2%); “other consumer goods not elsewhere classified” (+6.9%); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+9.1%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+3.9%); medicines and cosmetics (+7.6%); commodities in department stores (+2.8%); and optical shops (+1.5%).

By contrast, the value of sales of wearing apparel decreased by 5.4% for the period. Also down were sales of motor vehicles and parts (-4.1%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-5.3%); fuels (-13.4%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-10.2%); furniture and fixtures (-17.3%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-2.4%).

The Government said the retail sector continued to recover in September. Looking ahead, improving local consumer sentiment and sustained growth in inbound tourism should continue to render support to retail businesses.