Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that 47% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments reported a year-on-year rise in receipts in June, up by 6 percentage points from May; the corresponding proportions of Chinese Restaurants (65%) and Western Restaurants (37%) each increased by 11 percentage points. On the other hand, the share of interviewed establishments recording a year-on-year decline in receipts decreased by 3 percentage points over May to 26%, with the corresponding proportion of Japanese & Korean Restaurants (7%) reducing by 20 percentage points.
As regards retail trade, 66% of the interviewed retailers reported a year-on-year sales increase in June, down by 2 percentage points from May. The corresponding proportion of Motor Vehicle Retailers (89%) rose by 33 percentage points, while the shares of Supermarkets (67%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers (44%) each decreased by 22 percentage points. Meanwhile, 18% of the interviewed retailers registered a year-on-year sales decline, up by 4 percentage points from May.
The interviewed restaurants & similar establishments remained cautious about their business prospects, with the proportion of establishments anticipating a year-on-year rise in receipts for the summer holidays in July growing by merely 1 percentage point from June to 22%. Among the various types of interviewed establishments, 16% of the Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops expected their receipts to increase year-on-year in July, up by 2 percentage points from June. On the other hand, 23% of the interviewed establishments anticipated a year-on-year decline in receipts, up by 5 percentage points from June, with the corresponding proportion of Chinese Restaurants (21%) rising by 10 percentage points.
Retailers expected their business to weaken slightly in July. The proportion of interviewed retailers anticipating a year-on-year sales increase in July went down by 5 percentage points from June to 35%. Among the various types of interviewed retailers, 80% of the Leather Goods Retailers foresaw a year-on-year sales rise in July, up by 20 percentage points from June, while the corresponding share of Supermarkets (44%) dropped by 22 percentage points. Meanwhile, 23% of the interviewed retailers expected a year-on-year decline in sales, and the corresponding proportion of Motor Vehicle Retailers was 56%.
The sample of the Business Climate Survey on Restaurants & Similar Establishments and Retail Trade was selected based on the value of receipts of the establishments, comprising 167 restaurants & similar establishments (accounting for 53% of the industry’s receipts) and 135 retailers (accounting for 70% of the industry’s receipts). The Survey results were not extrapolated and only reflect the assessment of the business performance and expectations of the sample restaurants and retailers.