Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that 41% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments reported a year-on-year rise in receipts in May, down by 6 percentage points from April; the corresponding proportion of Western Restaurants (26%) reduced by 11 percentage points. On the other hand, the share of interviewed establishments recording a year-on-year decline in receipts increased by 7 percentage points over April to 29%, with the corresponding proportion of Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops (31%) rising by 10 percentage points.

As regards retail trade, 69% of the interviewed retailers reported a year-on-year sales increase in May, up by 2 percentage points from April. All of the interviewed Leather Goods Retailers, 89% of the Supermarkets and 83% of the Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers showed a year-on-year rise in sales in May. Meanwhile, 14% of the interviewed retailers registered a year-on-year sales decline, down by 3 percentage points from April.

The interviewed restaurants & similar establishments expected their business in June to be stable, with 82% anticipating a year-on-year rise in receipts or a steady performance, up by 2 percentage points from May. Among the interviewed establishments, 89% of the Chinese Restaurants and 87% of the Japanese & Korean Restaurants predicted their receipts to increase or remain stable year-on-year in June. Meanwhile, 18% of the interviewed establishments anticipated a year-on-year decline in receipts.

Retailers were more optimistic about their business prospects in June, with 83% predicting a year-on-year sales increase or a steady performance, up by 4 percentage points from May. Among the various types of interviewed retailers, all of the Motor Vehicle Retailers expected their sales to increase or stay steady year-on-year in June, and the corresponding proportions of Supermarkets and Department Stores were both 89%. On the other hand, 17% of the interviewed retailers expected a year-on-year decline in sales.

The sample of the Business Climate Survey on Restaurants & Similar Establishments and Retail Trade was selected based on the value of receipts of the establishments, comprising 167 restaurants & similar establishments (accounting for 53% of the industry’s receipts) and 135 retailers (accounting for 70% of the industry’s receipts). The Survey results were not extrapolated and only reflect the assessment of the business performance and expectations of the sample restaurants and retailers.