Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of retail sales leapt by 200.0% year-on-year to MOP20.70 billion in the second quarter of 2021, and the sales volume index soared by 219.0% after removing the effect of price changes. The significant growth was due to the relatively low base of comparison in the same quarter last year.
Most of the major retail trade activities recorded a year-on-year increase in sales value, with Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+957.9%), Leather Goods (+504.0%) and Communication Equipment (+460.4%) showing notable year-on-year growth; yet, sales value of Supermarkets (-11.3%) dropped. Meanwhile, the sales volume indices of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+1,015.8%), Leather Goods (+521.6%) and Communication Equipment (+498.7%) registered significant rise, while the index of Supermarkets (-10.9%) decreased. For the first half year of 2021, the value of retail sales reached MOP39.46 billion, an uplift of 118.4% year-on-year; besides, the sales volume index jumped by 130.4%.
Value of retail sales in the second quarter of 2021 rose by 10.3% as compared with the revised figure (MOP18.76 billion) in the first quarter of 2021. Sales values of Department Stores (+26.8%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+24.6%) increased markedly, whereas sales values of Communication Equipment (-23.5%) declined. Moreover, the sales volume index grew by 9.9% quarter-to-quarter; the indices of Department Stores and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery went up by 27.4% and 26.0% year-on-year respectively, while the index of Communication Equipment fell by 22.1%.
In respect of retailers’ comments, 40.9% of the retailers expected the sales volume to stay stable year-on-year in the third quarter of 2021, 42.9% anticipated a decrease and 16.2% forecasted an increase. Meanwhile, 78.0% of the retailers predicted that the retail prices would remain steady year-on-year in the third quarter, 15.3% foresaw a decrease and only 6.7% expected an increase. As compared with the second quarter of 2021, about 44.7% of the retailers envisaged sluggish business in the third quarter, whereas retailers expecting stable performance (35.7%) and those anticipating a favourable outlook (19.6%) together accounted for 55.3% of the total.