APRIL RETAIL SALES UP 11.7%

The value of total retail sales in April, provisionally estimated at $30.2 billion, increased 11.7% compared with the same month in 2021, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales for the month rose 8.1% year-on-year.

Of the total retail sales value in April, online sales accounted for 8.2%. Provisionally estimated at $2.5 billion, the value of online retail sales was up 34.8% compared with a year ago.

The value of sales of commodities in supermarkets increased by 5.8%, followed by electrical goods and other consumer durable goods, not elsewhere classified (+40.9%); other consumer goods, not elsewhere classified (+11.5%); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+13.9%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+4%); commodities in department stores (+10.7%); medicines and cosmetics (+18.5%); furniture and fixtures (+27.5%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+13.2%); Chinese drugs and herbs (+27.1%); and optical shops (+17.2%).

On the other hand, the value of sales of wearing apparel dipped 0.3% in April over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of motor vehicles and parts (-1.4%), and books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-10.5%).

The Government said the value of retail sales rebounded visibly by 11.7% year-on-year in April after two consecutive months of decline, on the back of the receding COVID-19 epidemic and the disbursement of the first batch of consumption vouchers.

Looking ahead, the retail sector should continue to recover provided that the local epidemic situation remains stable. The Consumption Voucher Scheme and other measures rolled out by the Government will further support consumption demand.

It is essential for the community to stay alert to keep the epidemic contained in order to preserve the economic recovery momentum, the Government added.

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