Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased by 4.1% year-on-year to MOP19.87 billion and rose by 9.4% as compared with the revised figure (MOP18.15 billion) in the third quarter of 2018. Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 20.9% of the total value of retail sales, followed by Goods in Department Stores (16.3%), Adults’ Clothing (13.4%) and Leather Goods (12.4%).
Among the major retail activities, sales values of Automotive Fuels (+16.6%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+15.1%) and Goods in Department Stores (+12.5%) increased notably year-on-year in the fourth quarter, whereas Adults’ Clothing (-4.1%) and Motor Vehicles (-3.2%) recorded a decrease. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales rose by 2.3% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, with sales volumes of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+14.9%) and Communication Equipment (+13.1%) showing significant growth; meanwhile, sales volumes of Adults’ Clothing (-6.3%) and Motor Vehicles (-5.4%) declined.
In comparison with the previous quarter, sales value of Communication Equipment soared by 113.1% and that of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles increased by 21.5%; meanwhile, sales values of Automotive Fuels (-6.2%) and Goods in Supermarkets (-3.6%) recorded a decrease. Volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter grew by 8.1% quarter-to-quarter, of which volumes of Communication Equipment (+117.4%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+21.9%) showed marked increase. On the other hand, sales volumes of Automotive Fuels (-6.0%) and Goods in Supermarkets (-3.7%) dropped quarter-to-quarter.
For the whole year of 2018, total value of retail sales rose by 15.9% year-on-year to MOP 76.80 billion, of which Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 16.16 billion), Goods in Department Stores (MOP 12.32 billion) and Adults' Clothing (MOP 10.14 billion) accounted for 21.0%, 16.0% and 13.2% respectively. Sales values of the major retail activities recorded year-on-year growth in 2018, with significant increase in Communication Equipment (+42.3%); in addition, growth was observed in sales values of Goods in Department Stores (+24.6%) and Leather Goods (+24.5%). Volume of retail sales in 2018 rose by 13.8% year-on-year, with notable increase in Communication Equipment (+48.5%), Leather Goods (+22.4%) and Goods in Department Stores (+19.5%).
In respect of retailers’ comments, 54.4% of the retailers expected the sales volume to remain steady year-on-year in the first quarter of 2019, 37.4% anticipated a decrease and 8.2% forecasted an increase. Meanwhile, 68.2% of the retailers expected the retail prices to stay stable year-on-year in the first quarter of 2019, 17.9% anticipated a decrease and 13.9% foresaw an increase. As compared with the fourth quarter of 2018, 44.5% of the retailers expected the business to slow down in the first quarter of 2019, 40.9% anticipated stable business performance and 14.6% predicted an improvement.