Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2009 was MOP 6.48 billion, for which retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery took the largest share of 23% of the total, at MOP 1.48 billion. Retail sales of Goods in Department Stores accounted for 16%, Adults' Clothing (10%), Goods in Supermarkets (8%), Motor Vehicles (7%), Cosmetics and Sanitary Articles (3%), Automotive Fuels (3%), Communication Equipment (3%) and Goods in Pharmacies (3%). Value of retail sales for the fourth quarter surged by 28% from a year earlier (5.07 billion) and 18% from the revised MOP 5.52 billion in the third quarter of 2009. Total value of retail sales for the whole year of 2009 amounted to MOP 22.11 billion, up by 16% over 2008, with notable increase in the retail sales of Goods in Department Stores (+41%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+33%) and Adults' Clothing (+25%); however, sales of Fuels for Household Use and Automotive Fuels decreased by 24% and 22% respectively. In the fourth quarter of 2009, about 34% of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the third quarter, down by 19 percentage points from the previous quarter; 66% reported that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase. In terms of retail prices, about 61% reported that the prices were stable, 18% stated that the prices increased whereas 21% reported the prices decreased. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2008, about 58% said that the stock level was normal in the fourth quarter of 2009, while 26% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the business outlook for the first quarter of 2010, about 75% expect sales volume will increase or remain stable compared with the fourth quarter of 2009 with 25% expecting a decrease. Meanwhile, about 80% expect the retail prices will remain stable or increase, while 20% expect a decrease. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2009 rose by 19.2% year-on-year, of which sales volume of Goods in Department Stores; and Motor Vehicles increased by 32.9% and 30.8% respectively; on the contrary, sales volume of Automotive Fuels and Fuels for Household Use decreased by 10.0% and 5.9%. Compared with the third quarter, sales volume in the fourth quarter registered a 13.3% increase. For the whole year of 2009, retail sales volume rose by 12.4% from 2008.
