Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2017 increased by 12.0% year-on-year to MOP16.59 billion, and up by 4.3% as compared with the revised figure (MOP15.91 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2016. Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 23.2% of the total retail sales, followed by Goods in Department Stores (15.0%), Adults' Clothing (12.8%), Leather Goods (11.8%) and Goods in Supermarkets (7.1%).
As regards year-on-year change in retail sales value, notable increase was recorded in Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+23.2%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+21.8%), Leather Goods (+18.6%), Automotive Fuels (+17.0%), Goods in Department Stores (+12.6%) and Adults' Clothing (+10.0%) among the major retail trade. Moreover, sales value of Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories rose substantially by 49.6% due to the government’s subsidy scheme for the elimination of two-stroke motorcycles.
After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales increased by 11.5% year-on-year in the first quarter. Sales volume of Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (+43.0%), Leather Goods (+26.3%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+23.8%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+20.6%) registered notable growth. On the other hand, a marked decrease was observed in the sales volume of Motor Vehicles (-12.3%).
Volume of retail sales for the first quarter of 2017 increased by 4.6% quarter-to-quarter. Sales volume of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+18.1%), Goods in Pharmacies (+13.8%), Goods in Supermarkets (+12.3%) and Leather Goods (+10.5%) showed greater increase, while that of Motor Vehicles (-31.6%) and Communication Equipment (-26.8%) decreased remarkably.
In respect of retailers’ comments, 47.5% of the retailers anticipated the sales volume in the second quarter of 2017 to stay stable as in the same quarter of 2016, 46.9% forecasted a decrease and 5.6% expected an increase. Meanwhile, 75.3% of the retailers anticipated the retail prices to remain steady year-on-year in the second quarter of 2017, 16.1% expected a decrease and 8.6% predicted an increase. As compared with the first quarter of 2017, 50.6% of the retailers anticipated a stable business performance in the second quarter of 2017, 32.6% expected the business to worsen and 16.8% predicted an improvement.