Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the business performance of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments in July was less satisfactory than in June, with 39% of the interviewed establishments reporting a year-on-year growth in receipts, down by 8 percentage points from June. The corresponding proportions of Japanese & Korean Restaurants (33%) and Western Restaurants (26%) fell by 20 and 11 percentage points respectively. On the other hand, 34% of the interviewed establishments recorded a year-on-year decline in receipts, up by 8 percentage points from June.
As regards retail trade, 63% of the interviewed retailers reported a year-on-year sales increase in July, down by 4 percentage points from June. The corresponding proportions of Motor Vehicle Retailers (56%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers (72%) dropped by 33 and 17 percentage points respectively, while the share of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers (67%) increased by 22 percentage points. All of the interviewed Leather Goods Retailers showed a year-on-year sales growth as in June. On the other hand, 27% of the interviewed retailers registered a year-on-year sales decline in July, up by 9 percentage points from June.
The interviewed restaurants & similar establishments expected no significant change in their business in August, with over 50% of the establishments anticipating their receipts to be stable year-on-year. Around 24% of the interviewed establishments forecasted a year-on-year rise in receipts, up by 1 percentage point from July. The corresponding proportion of Chinese Restaurants (48%) increased by 15 percentage points. Meanwhile, 24% of the interviewed establishments anticipated a year-on-year decline in receipts, an increase of around 1 percentage point from July.
Retailers were more optimistic about their business prospects in August, with 39% of the retailers anticipating a year-on-year sales increase, up by 5 percentage points from July. Among the various types of interviewed retailers, 80% of the Leather Goods Retailers foresaw a year-on-year sales growth in August, the same proportion as in July, whereas the corresponding shares of Supermarkets (56%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers (56%) each rose by 11 percentage points. Meanwhile, 19% of the interviewed retailers expected a year-on-year decline in sales, down by 4 percentage points from July.
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.