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Provisional statistics of retail sales for September
The value of total retail sales in September 1996, estimated at $18.5 billion, increased by 7% when compared with September 1995. After discounting the effect of price changes over the period, total retail sales increased by 3% in volume.
These are provisional figures on retail sales released today (Monday) by the Census and Statistics Department.
Compared with a year ago, sales of motor vehicles increased significantly by 22% in value and 21% in volume. These represented a sharp pick-up from the year- on-year growth rates of 8% in value and 7% in volume in August 1996.
Sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco also went up by 8% in both value and volume terms. These were partly attributable to more sales of mooncakes in September 1996, as the Mid-Autumn Festival took place in late September this year but early September last year.
Concurrently, sales of most other commodities also recorded increases of various magnitudes in both value and volume terms. These included consumer durable goods other than motor vehicles (7% in value and 6% in volume); miscellaneous consumer goods (10% in value and 5% in volume); and jewellery, watches and clocks and valuable gifts (5% in value and 3% in volume). Sales in department stores also rose by 9% in value and 4% in volume.
On the other hand, sales in supermarkets went up by 2% in value, but decreased by 3% in volume. Similarly, sales of clothing and footwear increased by 4% in value, but decreased by 4% in volume.
Besides, sales of fuels continued to show a decline, by 8% in value and 13% in volume, as a result of continued shift from retail purchases to direct purchases from major fuels suppliers.
Compared with August 1996 (but bearing in mind that this comparison is affected by seasonal factors), total retail sales in September 1996 decreased by 3% in value and 4% in volume.
Comparing the period from January to September 1996 with the same period in 1995, total retail sales rose by 6% in value and 1% in volume.