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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (April 29).
The value of total retail sales in March 2008, provisionally estimated at $22.6 billion, increased by 20.0% over a year earlier. After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the volume of total retail sales increased by 13.0% in March 2008 over a year earlier.
The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in February 2008, at $22.8 billion, increased by 9.5% over February 2007, while the volume of total retail sales increased by 4.4%. This came after an increase of 23.2% in value or 17.6% in volume in January. It should be noted that retail sales tend to show greater volatility in the first two months of a year due to the timing of the Lunar New Year, against the background that the local consumer spending normally attains a seasonal high immediately before the Festival. For the first two months of 2008 combined, retail sales increased by 16.4% in value or 11.0% in volume from a year earlier.
Taking the first quarter of 2008 together, total retail sales increased by 17.5% in value or 11.6% in volume over the same period a year earlier.
Analysed by type of retail outlet and comparing March 2008 with March 2007, the volume of sales of motor vehicles and parts increased the most, by 29.0%. This was followed by sales of electrical goods and photographic equipment (+22.1% in volume); wearing apparel (+19.0%); furniture and fixtures (+16.9%); miscellaneous consumer goods (+15.7%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+13.2%); commodities in department stores (+11.5%); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+10.7%); commodities in supermarkets (+4.9%); miscellaneous consumer durable goods (+4.7%); fuels(+4.7%); and food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco(+0.7%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the volume of total retail sales increased by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the preceding quarter.
These retail sales statistics are primarily intended to measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments, for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. They cover consumer spending on goods but not on services. Moreover, they include spending on goods by visitors in Hong Kong but not by Hong Kong residents outside Hong Kong. Hence they should not be regarded as a comprehensive indicator of overall consumer spending. In this context, it may be noted that the share of consumer spending on services in overall consumer spending has been increasing over time.
Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the quarterly series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether domestically or abroad.
Commentary
A Government spokesman pointed out that retail sales expanded rapidly in March over a year earlier, indicative of the sustained upbeat consumer sentiment.
Looking forward, the firm labour market conditions, rising income, and further growth of inbound tourism, will continue to provide support to the retail trade. Nevertheless, there is a need to stay alert to the impact of the unfolding global financial turbulence and the US economic slowdown on the economy and consumer sentiment.
Further information
The volume of retail sales is derived from the value of retail sales after adjusting for price changes. The relevant components of the Consumer Price Index are used as deflators.
Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by type of retail outlet for February 2008 and the provisional figures for March 2008. The value index is compiled with the average monthly value index of retail sales from October 2004 to September 2005 taken as 100.
Table 2 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by type of retail outlet for February 2008 and the provisional figures for March 2008. The volume index is compiled with the average monthly volume index of retail sales from October 2004 to September 2005 taken as 100.
Table 3 shows the movement of the volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.
Users can download the Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication is available for sale at HK$10.0 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel: 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
Enquiries about the survey results may be directed to the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2802 1258).
Ends/Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:15
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