XN000022-1995-05-25 — Page 11

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Comparing March 1995 with March 1994, sales of most other commodities recorded increases in value but decreases in volume by various magnitudes. They included clothing and footwear (+9% in value but -3% in volume); fuels (+7% in value, -3% in volume); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+5% in value, -2% in volume); department stores (+4% in value, -5% in volume); and supermarkets (+3% in value, -5% in volume).

Nevertheless, sales of jewellery, watches and clocks and valuable gifts continued to increase considerably, by 13% in value and 11% in volume.

Comparing the period from January to March 1995 with the same period in 1994, total retail sales rose by 7% in value and 1% in volume.

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 I presents the revised total retail sales figure for February 1995 and the provisional figure for March 1995.

Table 2 shows the value and volume indices of retail sales in February and March 1995 for all retail outlets and by type of retail outlet, with average retail sales from October 1989 to September 1990 taken as 100.

Comparisons of the March 1995 results with those for February 1995 and those for March 1994, as well as comparisons of retail sales in the period from January to March 1995 with the same period in 1994 are also given.

The report containing the analysis of the March 1995 results is now on sale at $4 per copy at the Government Publications Centre, Queensway Government Offices, Low Block, ground floor, 66 Queensway; and the Publications Section of the Census and Statistics Department, 19th floor, Wanchai Tower, Wan Chai.

Enquiries about the survey results may be directed to the Wholesale and Retail Trade Statistics Section of the Census and Statistics Department on tel 2802 1258.