Retail Sales Survey for the 2nd Quarter 2017

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the second quarter of 2017 increased by 10.1% year-on-year to MOP14.48 billion, but decreased by 12.2% as compared with the revised figure (MOP16.50 billion) in the first quarter of 2017. Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 22.0% of the total retail sales, followed by Goods in Department Stores (14.8%), Adults’ Clothing (12.1%), Leather Goods (12.0%) and Goods in Supermarkets (7.3%).

Among the major retail trade activities, sales values of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+25.1%) and Leather Goods (+21.7%) registered significant year-on-year growth owing to rising visitor spending. Moreover, sales values of Motor Vehicles (+11.6%), Automotive Fuels (+11.4%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+10.5%) increased year-on-year, while that of Communication Equipment (-5.3%) decreased. Value of retail sales for the first half year of 2017 totalled MOP30.98 billion, up by 10.8% year-on-year.

As from the second quarter of 2017, DSEC released the new retail sales volume index rebased to the period of April 2015 to March 2016. After adjusting for price changes, volume of retail sales rose by 10.5% year-on-year in the second quarter. Sales volume of the major retail trade activities recorded year-on-year increase, of which Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+28.0%), Leather Goods (+23.4%), Goods in Department Stores (+12.5%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+11.8%) showed notable growth. Volume of retail sales for the first half year of 2017 went up by 10.7% year-on-year.

Volume of retail sales for the second quarter of 2017 dropped by 13.3% quarter-to-quarter, of which Communication Equipment (-22.0%), Adults’ Clothing (-19.1%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-15.9%), Leather Goods (-14.3%) and Goods in Department Stores (-14.0%) decreased at varying rates. On the other hand, sales volume of Automotive Fuels (+9.0%) and Motor Vehicles (+6.1%) registered quarter-to-quarter increase.

In respect of retailers’ comments, 53.2% of the retailers anticipated a year-on-year decrease in sales volume in the third quarter of 2017, 39.8% expected the sales volume to remain steady and 7.0% forecast an increase. Meanwhile, 68.1% of the retailers expected the retail prices to stay stable year-on-year in the third quarter of 2017, 27.8% anticipated a decrease and 4.1% predicted an increase. As compared with the second quarter of 2017, 45.9% of the retailers expected the business to worsen in the third quarter, 36.0% anticipated a stable business performance and 18.1% predicted an improvement.