The value of total retail sales in September, provisionally estimated at $31.8 billion, rose 13% compared with the same month in 2022.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate represents a 10.1% year-on-year increase.

Of the total retail sales value in September, online sales accounted for 11%. Provisionally estimated at $3.5 billion, the value of this segment rose 22% compared with a year earlier.

The value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts, increased 27.3%.

There were also notable increases in other categories, including electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (up 1% in value); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (up 16.5%); other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (up 34.1%); wearing apparel (up 41.5%); commodities in department stores (up 12.2%); medicines and cosmetics (up 50.6%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (up 10.8%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (up 9.8%); Chinese drugs and herbs (up 14%); and optical shops (up 17.4%).

By contrast, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased 1.3% in September over a year earlier. Sales of motor vehicles and parts (down 25.1%), fuels (down 19.2%), and furniture and fixtures (down 15.1%) all declined.

Date: 2023.11.01