The value of total retail sales in November, provisionally estimated at $34.2 billion, rose 15.9% compared with the same month in 2022.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate represents a 12.4% year-on-year increase.

Of the total retail sales value in November, online sales accounted for 9.3%. Provisionally estimated at $3.2 billion, the value of this segment went down by 16.1% compared with a year earlier.

The value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased 0.8%. 

Increases were also recorded in the sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (up 60.8%); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (up 29%); wearing apparel (up 54.1%); commodities in department stores (up 15%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (up 6.3%); medicines and cosmetics (up 38.7%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (up 24.4%); Chinese drugs and herbs (up 33.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (up 11.1%); and optical shops (up 17.8%).

By contrast, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased 5% over a year earlier.

Sales also declined in some other categories, including motor vehicles and parts (down 22.9% in value); fuels (down 12.8%); and furniture and fixtures (down 13.1%).a

Date: 2024.01.04