Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2018 increased by 12.8% year-on-year to MOP18.19 billion and rose by 1.0% as compared with the revised figure (MOP18.00 billion) in the second quarter of 2018. Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 21.0% of the total value of retail sales, followed by Goods in Department Stores (16.3%), Adults’ Clothing (13.0%), Leather Goods (12.3%) and Goods in Supermarkets (6.6%).
Sales values of the major retail activities recorded year-on-year increases in the third quarter of 2018, with Goods in Department Stores (+23.1%), Communication Equipment (+19.8%), Automotive Fuels (+19.7%) and Goods in Pharmacies (+19.4%) showing significant growth. Value of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2018 surged by 20.8% year-on-year to MOP56.97 billion.
After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales grew by 11.1% year-on-year in the third quarter, with marked increase being observed in volumes of Communication Equipment (+24.8%), Leather Goods (+21.3%), Goods in Pharmacies (+17.7%), Goods in Department Stores (+16.5%) and Motor Vehicles (+16.0%). Volume of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2018 went up by 18.5% year-on-year.
In comparison with the previous quarter, sales values of Goods in Supermarkets and Adults’ Clothing increased by 11.8% and 8.0% respectively, while that of Communication Equipment (-18.5%) and Leather Goods (-8.1%) decreased. Volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2018 rose by 2.0% quarter-to-quarter, of which Goods in Supermarkets (+10.9%) and Adults’ Clothing (+10.2%) registered notable increase. However, sales volumes of Communication Equipment (-17.0%) and Leather Goods (-3.5%) recorded quarter-to-quarter decrease.
In respect of retailers’ comments, 45.8% of the retailers expected the sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2018 to be stable year-on-year, 38.2% forecasted a decrease and 16.0% predicted an increase. Meanwhile, 76.9% of the retailers expected the retail prices to remain steady year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2018, 13.7% anticipated growth and 9.4% foresaw a decline. As compared with the third quarter of 2018, 51.3% of the retailers anticipated a stable business performance in the fourth quarter of 2018, 31.0% expected the business to worsen and 17.7% predicted an improvement.