Retail Sales Rise 1.8% in July 2025, Online Sales Up 13.2% Year-on-Year

Provisional statistics of retail sales for July 2025

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (September 1).

The value of total retail sales in July 2025, provisionally estimated at $29.7 billion, increased by 1.8% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in June 2025 increased by 0.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first 7 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales decreased by 2.6% compared with the same period in 2024.

Of the total retail sales value in July 2025, online sales accounted for 8.7%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $2.6 billion, increased by 13.2% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of online retail sales in June 2025 increased by 13.1% compared with a year earlier. For the first 7 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 2.1% compared with the same period in 2024.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in July 2025 increased by 1.0% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in June 2025 decreased by 0.3% compared with a year earlier. For the first 7 months of 2025 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 4.0% in volume compared with the same period in 2024.

Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing July 2025 with July 2024, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets increased by 0.2%. This was followed by sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+9.8% in value); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+9.4%); wearing apparel (+1.3%); medicines and cosmetics (+2.6%); commodities in department stores (+2.6%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+20.5%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (+19.6%).

On the other hand, the value of sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco decreased by 3.1% in July 2025 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (-8.2% in value); motor vehicles and parts (-12.4%); fuels (-10.3%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-7.6%); furniture and fixtures (-9.4%); and optical shops (-2.4%).

Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 2.1% in the three months ending July 2025 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 2.0%.

Commentary

A government spokesman said that retail sales continued to stabilise in July. The value of total retail sales increased by 1.8% over the year, slightly faster than the increase in the preceding month.

Looking ahead, the spokesman said that local consumption sentiment should remain steady. The Government's proactive efforts in promoting tourism and mega events will also benefit retail businesses.

Further information

Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for June 2025 as well as the provisional figures for July 2025. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first 7 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.

Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for June 2025 as well as the provisional figures for July 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 7 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.

Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for June 2025 as well as the provisional figures for July 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 7 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.

Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.

The classification of retail establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.

These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail establishments through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail establishments with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.

The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.

Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication "Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component" for more details.

More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080003&scode=530).

Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; E-mail : mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases