Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2011 amounted to MOP 9.60 billion, up by 38% year-on-year. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery amounted to MOP 2.42 billion (25% of total), which was followed by retail sales of Goods in Department Stores (15%), Leather Goods (11%), Adults' Clothing (10%), Goods in Supermarkets (7%), Motor Vehicles (6%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (3%) and Communication Equipment (3%). In comparison with the revised figure (MOP 8.50 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2010, value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2011 increased by 13%, with marked increase in the retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+25%), Goods in Supermarkets (+19%) and Communication Equipment (+19%). After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the first quarter of 2011 rose by 27% year-on-year, with remarkable increase being observed in the sales volume of Leather Goods (+55%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+43%), Motor Vehicles (+40%), Communication Equipment (+38%) and Adults' Clothing (+30%). Volume of retail sales in the first quarter of 2011 registered a quarter-to-quarter increase of 10%, with that of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery rising by 20%, Communication Equipment and Goods in Supermarkets by 19% and 17% respectively. On the contrary, sales volume of Automotive Fuels declined by 5% quarter-to-quarter. In the first quarter of 2011, about 43% of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the fourth quarter of 2010, up by 24 percentage points compared with the previous quarter; besides, 57% stated that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase. In terms of retail prices, about 49% noted that the prices were stable, 35% stated that the prices increased whereas 16% reported the prices decreased. Compared with the first quarter of 2010, about 65% expressed that the stock level was normal in the first quarter of 2011, while 26% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the business outlook for the second quarter of 2011, about 79% anticipate that the sales volume will increase or remain stable compared with the first quarter, while 21% expect a decrease. Meanwhile, about 34% predict that the retail prices will increase; 53% expect to be stable whereas 13% forecast a decrease.
