Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that both the value and volume of retail sales recorded a year-on-year decrease in the second quarter of 2019, with the sales value falling by 0.8% to MOP17.86 billion and the sales volume dropping by 0.5%.

Among the major retail activities, sales values of Adults' Clothing (-10.9%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-4.2%) registered notable decline compared to the second quarter of 2018. On the other hand, sales values of Automotive Fuels (+7.3%) and Goods in Department Stores (+6.7%) increased. After removing the effect of price changes, sales volumes of Adults’ Clothing and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery dropped by 11.1% and 4.9% respectively year-on-year, whereas sales volumes of Communication Equipment (+14.1%), Goods in Department Stores (+6.4%) and Leather Goods (+5.0%) recorded growth. For the first half year of 2019, value of retail sales decreased by 1.2% year-on-year to MOP38.32 billion and the volume of retail sales went down by 1.1%.

Value of retail sales in the second quarter of 2019 decreased by 12.7% as compared with the revised figure (MOP20.46 billion) in the first quarter. Sales values of Communication Equipment (-28.5%) and Adults’ Clothing (-22.7%) fell noticeably, whereas sales values of Motor Vehicles (+19.4%) and Automotive Fuels (+16.7%) increased. Meanwhile, volume of retail sales dropped by 13.2% quarter-to-quarter, with marked decline in the sales volumes of Communication Equipment (-26.8%) and Adults’ Clothing (-24.0%); however, sales volume of Motor Vehicles (+18.3%) recorded growth.

In respect of retailers’ comments, 58.5% of the retailers expected the sales volume in the third quarter of 2019 to stay stable year-on-year, 36.5% forecasted a decrease and merely 5.0% anticipated an increase. Meanwhile, 77.9% of the retailers expected the retail prices to remain steady year-on-year in the third quarter, 15.7% predicted a decrease and 6.4% foresaw an increase. As compared with the second quarter of 2019, 46.3% of the retailers expected stable performance in the third quarter, 39.9% envisaged unfavourable business prospects and 13.8% predicted a favourable outlook.