Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that 39% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments reported a year-on-year rise in receipts in June, up by 7 percentage points from May. The corresponding proportions of Chinese Restaurants (46%) and Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops (40%) increased by 9 percentage points and 8 percentage points respectively, whereas the share of Western Restaurants (32%) went down by 5 percentage points. On the other hand, 27% of the interviewed establishments recorded a year-on-year decline in receipts in June, the same proportion as in May.
As regards retail trade, 38% of the interviewed retailers registered a year-on-year sales increase in June, a growth of 3 percentage points from the preceding month. The corresponding proportion of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers (30%) rose by 10 percentage points, while the share of Leather Goods Retailers (60%) fell by 20 percentage points. Meanwhile, 78% of the interviewed Supermarkets, 46% of the Department Stores and 40% of the Adults’ Clothing Retailers showed a year-on-year sales growth, with the proportions staying steady as in May. By contrast, the proportion of interviewed retailers reporting a year-on-year decline in sales grew by 2 percentage points from May to 45%.
The interviewed restaurants & similar establishments expected a slight improvement in their business in the summer holidays, with 73% of them anticipating a year-on-year rise in receipts or steady performance in July, an increase of 7 percentage points from June. Among the various types of interviewed establishments, 77% of the Japanese & Korean Restaurants and 65% of the Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops predicted a year-on-year growth in receipts or stable performance in July, a surge of 23 percentage points and 12 percentage points respectively from June. Meanwhile, the proportion of establishments foreseeing a year-on-year decline in receipts reduced to 27%.
Retailers also expected their sales to stabilise in July, with 68% of them anticipating their sales to increase year-on-year or remain steady, a 4 percentage point rise from June. Among the interviewed retailers, all of the Supermarkets and 56% of the Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers forecasted a year-on-year sales rise or steady performance in July, with both proportions increasing by 11 percentage points from June. Meanwhile, the share of interviewed Motor Vehicle Retailers predicting a year-on-year sales decrease dropped by 20 percentage points from June to 50%.
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 186 restaurants & similar establishments (accounting for 53% of the industry’s receipts) and 136 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.
