Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2015 reached MOP 16.41 billion, down by 5% compared with the revised figure of MOP 17.33 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 3.73 billion) accounted for 23% of the total, which was followed by retail sales of Goods in Department Stores (15%), Adults' Clothing (11%), Leather Goods (10%), Goods in Supermarkets (7%) and Motor Vehicles (5%). In comparison with the first quarter of 2014, value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 11%, with marked decrease being observed in sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-31%), Leather Goods (-28%), Goods in Department Stores (-13%) and Motor Vehicles (-13%). On the other hand, sales of Communication Equipment soared by 56%, and sales of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles rose by 18%. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 3% quarter-to-quarter, with notable decrease in sales of Leather Goods (-14%), Chinese Food Products (-14%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-13%) and Motor Vehicles (-12%); however, sales of Communication Equipment increased by 25% quarter-to-quarter. Meanwhile, volume of retail sales for the first quarter decreased by 8% year-on-year, of which sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-28%) and Leather Goods (-28%) marked notable decline, and sales of Goods in Department Stores and Motor Vehicles decreased by 15% and 13% respectively; on the contrary, sales of Communication Equipment surged by 60%. In respect of the comments of the retailers, about 41% stated that sales volume in the first quarter of 2015 increased or held stable over the previous quarter, down by 12 percentage points compared with the corresponding figure in the fourth quarter of 2014, while 59% reported decrease in sales volume. In terms of the retail prices, about 42% reported stable prices, 21% stated an increase and 37% noted a decrease. Moreover, about 65% of the retailers expressed that the stock level remained stable compared with the first quarter of 2014, while 23% indicated that the stock level decreased. As regards business outlook for the second quarter of 2015, about 18% of the retailers anticipate that sales volume will increase from the first quarter, 49% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 33% foresee a decrease. Concurrently, about 77% predict stable retail prices, 15% predict a decrease, while 8% expect an increase in retail prices.
