Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2015 amounted to MOP 14.61 billion, up by 1.3% compared with the revised figure of MOP 14.42 billion in the second quarter. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 3.42 billion) accounted for 23.4% of the total, which was followed by retail sales of Goods in Department Stores (15.1%), Adults' Clothing (11.1%), Leather Goods (9.1%), Goods in Supermarkets (7.7%) and Motor Vehicles (5.2%).
In comparison with the third quarter of 2014, value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2015 declined by 7.7%, with marked decrease being observed in sales of Leather Goods (-21.0%), Motor Vehicles (-18.2%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-17.5%) and Goods in Department Stores (-12.0%). On the other hand, sales of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+29.1%) and Adults' Clothing (+12.1%) showed notable increase. Value of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2015 totalled MOP 45.32 billion, down by 10.4% year-on-year.
After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2015 rose by 0.9% quarter-to-quarter, with marked increase in sales of Adults' Clothing (+21.8%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+16.9%); on the contrary, sales of Communication Equipment (-29.2%) and Motor Vehicles (-14.5%) showed notable decrease. Meanwhile, volume of retail sales for the third quarter decreased by 5.6% year-on-year, of which sales of Motor Vehicles (-19.5%), Leather Goods (-16.3%), Goods in Department Stores (-11.4%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-10.8%) and Goods in Pharmacies (-10.6%) recorded notable decline; however, sales of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles and Adults' Clothing increased by 28.9% and 13.6% respectively. Volume of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2015 decreased by 7.9% year-on-year.
In respect of the comments of the retailers, about 56.7% stated that sales volume in the third quarter of 2015 decreased over the previous quarter, down by 10.4 percentage points compared with the corresponding figure in the second quarter of 2015; 25.5% reported stable sales volume and 17.8% stated an increase. In terms of the retail prices, about 67.6% reported stable prices, 26.1% noted a decrease and 6.3% stated an increase. Moreover, about 64.2% of the retailers expressed that the stock level remained stable compared with the third quarter of 2014, while 21.8% indicated that the stock level decreased.
As regards business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2015, 40.4% of the retailers anticipate that sales volume will decrease from the third quarter, 39.3% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 20.3% expect an increase. Concurrently, 70.6% predict stable retail prices, 22.2% expect a decrease, while 7.2% predict an increase in retail prices.
