The value of total retail sales in August, provisionally estimated at $32.4 billion, rose 13.7% compared with the same month in 2022.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate represents an 11% year-on-year increase.

Of the total retail sales value in August, online sales accounted for 7.3%. Provisionally estimated at $2.4 billion, the value of this segment dropped 9% compared with a year earlier.

The value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts, increased 57.2%.

There were also notable increases in other categories, including apparel apparel (up 40% in value); commodities in department stores (up 14.9%); medicines and cosmetics (up 42.9%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (up 24.2%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (up 10.2%); Chinese drugs and herbs (up 32%); and consumer goods not elsewhere classified (up 23.4%).

By contrast, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased 3% in August over a year earlier. Sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco were down 1.4%, while sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified fell 15.9%. Sales of motor vehicles and parts (down 5.8%), fuels (down 15.5%), and furniture and fixtures (down 15.1%) all declined.

Date: 2023.09.29