Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that, attributable to a boost in consumer spending spurred by the launch of electronic consumption cards, the proportion of interviewed restaurants & similar establishments recording a year-on-year increase in receipts in May 2020 rose by 12 percentage points from April to 17%. The corresponding proportions of Japanese & Korean Restaurants (53%) and Chinese Restaurants (17%) surged by 36 percentage points and 13 percentage points respectively. Meanwhile, 73% of the interviewed establishments reported a year-on-year decline in receipts, a decrease of 16 percentage points from April. The corresponding shares of Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops (75%) and Western Restaurants (78%) dropped by 12 percentage points and 11 percentage points respectively.

As regards retail trade, 16% of the interviewed retailers registered a year-on-year sales rise in May, an increase of 7 percentage points from April. The corresponding share of Department Stores (27%) expanded by 18 percentage points while the proportion of Supermarkets (89%) stayed at the same level as in April. On the other hand, 80% of the interviewed retailers recorded a year-on-year sales decrease, down by 7 percentage points from the preceding month; the corresponding proportion of Motor Vehicle Retailers (56%) fell by 11 percentage points. All of the interviewed retailers of Leather Goods, Watches, Clocks & Jewellery, Adults’ Clothing and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles reported a year-on-year sales decline.

In terms of the business outlook for June, the proportion of interviewed restaurants & similar establishments expecting their receipts to increase year-on-year or remain steady rose by 6 percentage points from May to 25%, while the corresponding share for retailers (21%) went down by 1 percentage point. Meanwhile, there were 33% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments and 46% of the retailers anticipating a year-on-year decline of fifty percent or more in receipts, down by 5 percentage points and 4 percentage points respectively from May.

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 135 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.