Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2013 totalled MOP 15.43 billion. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery amounted to MOP 4.62 billion (30% of total), which was followed by retail sales of Goods in Department Stores (15%), Leather Goods (11%), Adults' Clothing (10%), Motor Vehicles (6%) and Goods in Supermarket (6%).

Value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2013 increased by 17% year-on-year, compared with the revised figure (MOP 13.24 billion) of the same quarter of 2012, with marked increase being observed in sales of Footwear (+29%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+25%), Goods in Pharmacies (+23%), Motor Vehicles (+23%) and Goods in Department Stores (+23%).

After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the first quarter of 2013 increased by 15% year-on-year, with notable increase in sales of Footwear (+29%), Goods in Department Stores (+24%), Motor Vehicles (+24%), Communication equipment (+22%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+21%). Meanwhile, volume of retail sales increased by 8% quarter-to-quarter, of which sales of Communication equipment (+18%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+14%) saw significant increase; on the contrary, sales of Motor Vehicles decreased by 11%.

In respect of the comments of the retailers, about 56% stated that sales volume in the first quarter of 2013 increased or held stable over the previous quarter, down by 13 percentage points compared with those holding the same sentiment in the fourth quarter of 2012, while 44% reported decrease in sales volume. In terms of the retail prices, about 64% reported stable prices, 24% stated an increase and 12% stated a decrease.

In comparison with the same quarter of 2012, about 74% expressed that the stock level was normal in the first quarter of 2013, while 13% indicated that the stock level was low.

As regards business outlook for the second quarter of 2013, about 18% anticipate that sales volume will increase from the first quarter, 50% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 32% expect a decrease. Concurrently, about 71% predict stable retail prices, 20% expect an increase, while 9% predict a decrease in retail prices.