The value of total retail sales in October, provisionally estimated at $35.2 billion, was up 6.9% 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 5.3% higher year-on-year.

Online sales accounted for 14.6% of the total retail sales figure for the month. Provisionally estimated at $5.2 billion, the value of online retail sales rose 27.2% compared with a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 24.6%.

There were also increases in the value of sales in the following categories: jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+9.5%); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+9.7%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+6%); commodities in department stores (+5.8%); wearing apparel (+0.9%); medicines and cosmetics (+3.8%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+1.1%); and optical shops (+4.4%).

By contrast, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased 1.8%. Also down were sales of motor vehicles and parts (-20.1%); fuels (-8.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-0.6%); furniture and fixtures (-2.3%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-6.6%).

The Government said the recovery in retail sales gathered strength in October. Sales of most broad retail outlet types continued to grow.

Looking ahead, the Government expects that ongoing improvement in local consumer sentiment and sustained notable growth in visitor arrivals should continue to render support to retail businesses.