Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased by 16.2% year-on-year to MOP19.08 billion and rose by 18.3% as compared with the revised figure (MOP16.12 billion) in the third quarter of 2017. Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 21.5% of the total value of retail sales, followed by Goods in Department Stores (15.0%), Adults’ Clothing (14.5%), Leather Goods (11.9%) and Goods in Supermarkets (5.7%).
Sales values of the major retail activities recorded year-on-year increases in the fourth quarter of 2017, with Communication Equipment (+31.7%), Leather Goods (+24.8%), Goods in Pharmacies (+21.0%), Adults’ Clothing (+20.6%) and Goods in Department Stores (+20.1%) showing notable growth.
After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales grew by 14.8% year-on-year in the fourth quarter. Sales volumes of Communication Equipment (+40.4%), Leather Goods (+27.0%) and Goods in Department Stores (+23.2%) recorded significant increase while sales volume of Automotive Fuels (-3.6%) decreased. Volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter went up by 16.9% quarter-to-quarter, with Communication Equipment soaring by 116.1%, followed by Motor Vehicles (+38.7%) and Adults’ Clothing (+29.1%). Meanwhile, sales volumes of Automotive Fuels (-6.9%) and Goods in Supermarkets (-2.0%) decreased quarter-to-quarter.
For the whole year of 2017, total value of retail sales increased by 12.6% year-on-year to MOP 66.26 billion, of which Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 14.75 billion), Goods in Department Stores (MOP 9.88 billion) and Adults' Clothing (MOP 8.68 billion) accounted for 22.3%, 14.9% and 13.1% respectively. Among the major retail activities, notable increase was observed in the sales values of Leather Goods (+22.4%), and sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+17.0%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+16.2%) and Goods in Department Stores (+14.9%) also registered growth. In addition, sales value of Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories surged by 36.2% owing to the government’s subsidy scheme for the elimination of two-stroke motorcycles as well as the increased demand for motor vehicles after the catastrophic typhoon on 23 August 2017. Volume of retail sales in 2017 rose by 12.6% year-on-year, with marked increase in the sales volumes of Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (+30.4%), Leather Goods (+25.1%) and Communication Equipment (+20.2%).
In respect of retailers’ comments, 42.9% of the retailers anticipated a year-on-year decrease in sales volume in the first quarter of 2018, 41.7% expected the sales volume to remain steady and 15.4% forecast an increase. Meanwhile, 59.6% of the retailers expected the retail prices to stay stable year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018, 23.2% anticipated an increase and 17.2% predicted a decrease. As compared with the fourth quarter of 2017, 42.7% of the retailers expected the business to deteriorate in the first quarter of 2018, 41.6% anticipated a stable business performance and 15.7% predicted an improvement.