The total value of retail sales in May, provisionally estimated at $33.8 billion, was up 7.9% compared with the same month a year earlier, the Census & Statistics Department said today.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales represents a 4.8% year-on-year increase.

Online sales accounted for 10.1% of the total retail sales value in May. Provisionally estimated at $3.4 billion, the value of this segment rose 33.1% from the same month a year earlier.

The value of sales of consumer goods “not elsewhere classified” increased 14.8% in May 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.

There were also increases in the following categories: jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (up 25.8%); commodities in supermarkets (up 0.9%); clothing (up 3%); commodities in department stores (up 9.2%); medicines and cosmetics (up 3.5%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (up 13%); motor vehicles and parts (up 1.7%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (up 4.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (up 4.5%); furniture and fixtures (up 4.6%); and optical items (up 10.3%).

Meanwhile, the value of sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco dropped 0.3% in May compared with the same month in the previous year. This was followed by sales of fuels (down 12.2%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (down 9.5%).

The Government highlighted that retail sales continued to increase solidly, with sales of most broad types of retail outlet registering growth.

Looking ahead, it said that the ongoing economic expansion and sustained growth in local labour earnings, together with a continued increase in inbound visitors, should benefit retail businesses.