Clothing Sales In Hongkong Rose 5.4% In July

According to the Hongkong census and Statistics Department, total retail sales increased by 13.8% in July to 24 billion 200 million yuan, excluding price changes during the period, and total retail sales increased by 6.6%. The number of sales of electrical and photographic equipment increased by 22.2%.

Hongkong's census and Statistics Department announced that retail sales were strong during the month, and that many sectors of the consumer market were growing.

However, global economic uncertainty and weak stock market may affect consumption intention. During the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, some consumers choose to stay home to watch events, and the weakening of the tourism industry in Hong Kong may affect the local retail business in August.

The Department said that the robust performance of the labour market and the expected rebound in the short term decline of the tourism industry were expected to support the future performance of the retail industry.

According to the analysis of store category, the number of sales of electrical and photographic equipment increased by 22.2% in July, followed by auto and auto parts, an increase of 20.1%.

Other categories of retail sales were recorded: fuel (18.6%), furniture and fixtures (8.6%), miscellaneous consumer goods (8.3%), department store products (8%), miscellaneous durable consumer goods (6.7%), clothing (5.4%), footwear and related products and other clothing accessories (3.3%).

The sales volume of food, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, supermarket goods, jewellery, watches and clocks and precious gifts decreased by 3.1%, 1.4% and 0.8% respectively.

In the first quarter of July, the total retail sales increased by 15.6% and the total sales volume increased by 8.9%.