The value of total retail sales for December 2025, provisionally estimated at $35 billion, was up 6.6% 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 5.1% higher year-on-year.

Online sales accounted for 8.8% of the total retail sales figure for the month. Provisionally estimated at $3.1 billion, the value of online retail sales rose 30.9% compared with a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts increased by 14.3% year-on-year.

There were also increases in the value of sales in the following categories: other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+7.5%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+58.9%); commodities in supermarkets (+0.3%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+0.5%); medicines and cosmetics (+0.6%); motor vehicles and parts (+8.9%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+6.7%); and optical shops (+5.2%).

By contrast, the value of sales of wearing apparel decreased 10.3%. Also down were sales of commodities in department stores (-4.6%); fuels (-12.8%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-10%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-2.1%); and furniture and fixtures (-7.9%).

For 2025 as a whole, the value of total retail sales was provisionally estimated at $380.5 billion, up 1%, and remained at a similar level in volume compared with 2024. The value of online retail sales, provisionally estimated at $35.7 billion, rose 12.8% over 2024.

The Government said the value of retail sales continued to recover solidly in December 2025, rising a further 6.6% over a year earlier. For 2025 as a whole, total retail sales value resumed modest growth.

Looking ahead, the Government considered that improving sentiment in local consumption underpinned by the robust momentum of economic growth, together with continued vibrant growth in the numbers of inbound visitors, will continue to benefit retail businesses.