Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2010 amounted to MOP 7.54 billion, up notably by 35% year-on-year. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 1.92 billion) took the largest share of 25%, which was followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (14%), Leather Goods (10%), Adults' Clothing (8%), Goods in Supermarkets (8%), Motor Vehicles (8%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (3%), Automotive Fuels (3%), Goods in Pharmacies (3%) and Communication Equipment (3%). In comparison with the revised figure (MOP 6.86 billion) in the second quarter of 2010, value of retail sales for the third quarter increased by 10%, with marked increase in the retail sales of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+19%), Leather Goods (+18%), Communication Equipment (+17%), Goods in Supermarkets (+17%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+15%). In the first three quarters of 2010, the cumulative value of retail sales reached MOP21.33 billion, up by 35% year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2010, about 43% of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the second quarter, down by 16 percentage points from the previous quarter; 57% reported that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase. In terms of retail prices, about 55% reported that the prices were stable; 19% stated that the prices increased whereas 26% reported the prices decreased. Compared with the third quarter of 2009, about 51% expressed that the stock level was normal in the third quarter of 2010, while 28% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2010, about 78% anticipate that the sales volume will increase or remain stable compared with the third quarter, while 22% expect a decrease. Meanwhile, about 89% predict that the retail prices will remain stable or increase whereas 11% forecast a decrease. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2010 rose by 25% year-on-year, with remarkable increase being observed in the sales volume of Leather Goods (+71%), Motor Vehicles (+37%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+36%), Goods in Pharmacies (+35%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+32%) and Goods in Department Stores (+22%). Volume of retail sales in the third quarter of 2010 registered a quarter-to-quarter increase of 10%, with that of Communication Equipment rising by 20%, Leather Goods by 19% and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles by 18%, while sales volume of Motor Vehicles decreased by 3%.
