Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of retail sales for the second quarter of 2018 increased by 23.7% year-on-year to MOP18.01 billion, yet fell by 13.4% as compared with the revised figure (MOP20.79 billion) in the first quarter of 2018. Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 21.1% of the total retail sales, followed by Goods in Department Stores (15.8%), Leather Goods (13.4%) and Adults' Clothing (12.4%).
Among the major retail activities, sales value of Communication Equipment (+65.3%), Leather Goods (+36.9%), Goods in Department Stores (+34.2%), Adults' Clothing (+26.7%) and Motor Vehicles (+24.7%) registered notable year-on-year increases in the second quarter. Value of retail sales for the first half year of 2018 totalled MOP38.79 billion, up by 24.9% year-on-year.
After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales increased by 21.3% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2018. Significant growth was observed in the sales volume of Communication Equipment (+70.0%), Leather Goods (+36.3%), Goods in Department Stores (+29.3%) and Motor Vehicles (+22.7%). Volume of retail sales for the first half year of 2018 went up by 22.4% year-on-year.
In comparison with the previous quarter, sales value of Communication Equipment (-43.2%), Adults’ Clothing (-23.2%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (-15.7%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-13.4%) decreased at varying rates in the second quarter of 2018, while sales value of Automotive Fuels (+12.6%) increased. Meanwhile, volume of retail sales dropped by 14.2% quarter-to-quarter, of which sales volume of Communication Equipment (-42.5%) and Adults’ Clothing (-25.0%) showed notable decline, while that of Automotive Fuels (+8.0%) recorded growth.
In respect of retailers’ comments, 56.5% of the retailers expected the sales volume in the third quarter of 2018 to be stable year-on-year, 35.3% forecasted a decrease and 8.2% anticipated an increase. Meanwhile, 81.0% of the retailers expected the retail prices to remain steady year-on-year in the third quarter of 2018, 10.1% predicted a decline and 8.9% foresaw growth. As compared with the second quarter of 2018, 46.6% of the retailers anticipated a stable business performance in the third quarter of 2018, 36.0% expected the business to worsen and 17.4% foresaw an improvement.