Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total value of retail sales for the whole year of 2014 reached MOP 67.66 billion, up by 1% year-on-year. Value of retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 18.14 billion) and Goods in Department Stores (MOP 9.92 billion) accounted for 27% and 15% of the total respectively. Similarly, volume of retail sales for 2014 increased by 1% year-on-year, with notable increase in sales of Household Appliances (+34%), Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (+30%) and Chinese Food Products (+24%).

Value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2014 totalled MOP 17.04 billion, up by 8% compared with the revised figure of MOP 15.82 billion in the third quarter. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 4.40 billion) accounted for 26% of the total, which was followed by retail sales of Goods in Department Stores (12%), Adults' Clothing (11%), Leather Goods (11%), Motor Vehicles (6%) and Goods in Supermarkets (6%). Value of retail sales for the fourth quarter decreased by 8% year-on-year, with marked decrease being observed in sales of Goods in Department Stores (-23%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-21%). On the other hand, sales of Chinese Food Products and Household Appliances increased by 24% and 21% respectively year-on-year.

After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2014 increased by 4% quarter-to-quarter, of which sales of Furniture & Lighting and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles soared by 62% and 31% respectively; however, sales of Goods in Department Stores tumbled by 31%. Meanwhile, volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter decreased by 11% year-on-year, with notable decrease in sales of Goods in Department Stores (-37%), Adults' Clothing (-22%), Dried Seafood (-22%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-19%); on the contrary, sales of Furniture & Lighting, Household Appliances and Chinese Food Products increased by 51%, 24% and 22% respectively.

In respect of the comments of the retailers, about 53% stated that sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2014 increased or held stable over the previous quarter, up by 1 percentage point compared with the corresponding figure in the third quarter of 2014, while 47% reported decrease in sales volume. In terms of the retail prices, about 67% reported stable prices, 10% stated an increase and 23% noted a decrease.

Moreover, about 68% of the retailers expressed that the stock level remained stable compared with the fourth quarter of 2013, while 19% indicated that the stock level decreased.

As regards business outlook for the first quarter of 2015, about 24% of the retailers anticipate that sales volume will increase from the fourth quarter, 44% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 32% foresee a decrease. Concurrently, about 64% predict stable retail prices, 20% expect an increase, while 16% predict a decrease in retail prices.