XN000022-1997-01-24 — Page 15

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On the other hand, sales in department stores registered an increase of 6% in value, but a decrease of 1% in volume. Similarly, sales of clothing and footwear rose by 4% in value, but went down by 5% in volume.

Besides, sales of fuels continued to show a decline of 6% in volume, though showing no apparent change in value. The decline is largely due to the continued shift from retail purchases to direct purchases from major fuels suppliers.

Compared with October 1996 (but bearing in mind that this comparison is affected by seasonal factors), total retail sales in November 1996 decreased by 4% in value and 5% in volume.

Comparing the period from January to November 1996 with the same period in 1995, total retail sales rose by 6% 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 1 presents the revised total retail sales figure for October 1996 and the provisional figure for November 1996.

Table 2 shows the value and volume indices of retail sales in November 1995, October 1996 and November 1996 for all retail outlets and by type of retail outlets, with average retail sales from October 1994 to September 1995 taken as 100. Comparisons of the November 1996 results with those for October 1996 and those for November 1995, as well as comparison of retail sales in the period from January to November of 1996 with the same period in 1995 are also given.

The report containing the analysis of the November 1996 results is now on sale at $4 per copy at the Government Publications Centre, Queensway Government Offices, ground floor, Low Block, 66 Queensway; and the Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department, 19th floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, 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 2802 1258.