Retail Sales in November 2025 Rise 6.5% Year-on-Year, Driven by Strong Online Sales Growth

Provisional statistics of retail sales for November 2025

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (January 2).

The value of total retail sales in November 2025, provisionally estimated at $33.7 billion, increased by 6.5% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in October 2025 increased by 6.9% compared with a year earlier. For the first 11 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 0.4% compared with the same period in 2024.

Of the total retail sales value in November 2025, online sales accounted for 11.2%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $3.8 billion, increased by 28.4% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of online retail sales in October 2025 increased by 27.2% compared with a year earlier. For the first 11 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 11.4% 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 November 2025 increased by 4.4% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in October 2025 increased by 5.3% compared with a year earlier. For the first 11 months of 2025 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 0.9% 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 November 2025 with November 2024, the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 38.6%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+3.6% in value); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+5.5%); wearing apparel (+3.0%); commodities in department stores (+3.8%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+2.0%); medicines and cosmetics (+9.2%); and optical shops (+7.3%).

On the other hand, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased by 2.1% in November 2025 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of motor vehicles and parts (-3.1% in value); fuels (-11.1%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-4.3%); furniture and fixtures (-6.1%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-10.6%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-1.8%).

Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 3.9% in the three months ending November 2025 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 2.2%.

Commentary

A government spokesman said that retail sales sustained its recovery momentum in November. The value of total retail sales increased notably further by 6.5% over a year earlier. Sales of many broad retail outlet types increased.

Looking ahead, the gradual improvement in local consumption sentiment amid sustained economic growth, coupled with the vibrant growth in inbound visitors, will continue to 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 October 2025 as well as the provisional figures for November 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 11 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.

Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for October 2025 as well as the provisional figures for November 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 11 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 October 2025 as well as the provisional figures for November 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 11 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 companies 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 companies 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 companies through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail companies 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 the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email:mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), Photo source: reference image

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department releases review results report on CLP Power Hong Kong Limited's power supply system

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (January 2) released the review results report on CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP)'s power supply system. The report has been uploaded to the following website: www.emsd.gov.hk/filemanager/ReviewResultsReport(Eng).pdf.

Under the supervision of the Steering Committee on Review of CLP's Power Supply System, comprising local experts and scholars, the EMSD has completed the review and submitted the report to the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB). The review comprehensively analysed the causes of all incidents of power supply interruptions and voltage dips of CLP from 2021 to June 2024. Targeting the existing condition of CLP's power supply system, the review results report proposed five action objectives, formulated 11 action strategies, and put forward43 recommendations based on the said action objectives.

The EEB will work with the EMSD to closely monitor CLP's implementation of the recommendations in the review results report, particularly on fostering CLP to establish a more proactive maintenance culture, with a view to further enhancing the stability and reliability of CLP's power supply system and reducing the likelihood and impacts of power incidents in the future.

The spokesperson for the EEB said, "The Government attaches great importance to the power companies' abilities to maintain a safe and reliable power system. In light of the multiple power incidents that occurred with CLP in the first half of 2024, the EEB requested the EMSD to conduct a comprehensive review of CLP's power supply system and make targeted recommendations. These recommendations should be focused on reducing power supply interruptions and voltage dips, as well as minimising the impact of such incidents on the public. The EEB deeply appreciates the relentless efforts of the Steering Committee led by Mr Kelvin Lo and their professional advice tendered for the review."

Under the supervision of the EMSD, CLP had started to implement some of the improvement measures before completion of the review. Measures include using the Intelligent Management System Grid-V to detect risks in the vicinity of power supply equipment, installing additional lightning protection systems, and adding floodgates or flood protection facilities at more critical substations. The number of CLP's large-scale power interruption incidents affecting over 2 000 households in 2025 were reduced by half year-on-year, and CLP's power supply system remained generally intact during the passage of Super Typhoon Ragasa and Typhoon Wipha when Hurricane Signals No. 10 were issued.

As regards the power interruption incident that occurred in Kowloon City during the afternoon of December 18, 2025, CLP activated interconnectors to allocate backup power and conducted remote operations, restoring supply to over 70 per cent of affected customers within four minutes, which proved that the recommendation "to increase the number of interconnectors in the urban distribution network" in the review report may effectively reduce the scope and duration of incident impacts on customers. CLP, in accordance with the newly established service pledge, dispatched a maintenance team to the site within 22 minutes after the incident to conduct a power outage inspection.

To ensure that CLP fully and systematically implements the recommendations of the report, thereby further enhancing the stability and reliability of its power supply system, CLP has established an action plan timetable per the Government's request. The five action objectives and their recommendations in the review results report mainly include:

(1)Reduce incidents of power supply interruptions and voltage dips

expedite the digitisation of equipment maintenance;

conduct tests on high-risk underground circuits;

proactively collaborate and follow up with road excavation contractors; and

improve the lightning protection systems of power stations.

(2)Alleviate the impact of power supply interruptions and voltage dips on customers

increase the number of interconnectors in the urban distribution network to strengthen mutual backup ability;

formulate a joint crisis response drill plan with major public service providers; and

strengthen incident response drills with property management companies.

(3)Expedite power restoration after power supply interruption incidents

optimise the incident handling and power restoration workflows; and

increase flexibility in deploying temporary power supply sources and improve standard operating procedures for mobile generator deployment.

(4)Leverage innovative technologies for maintenance and monitoring of equipment conditions

extend the application of the Intelligent Management System Grid-V;

uplift construction site activity monitoring by deploying AI-powered cameras to reduce the risk of third-party damage to transmission and distribution cables; and

leverage smart meter and data analytics of advanced metering infrastructure to reduce low voltage power incidents.

(5)Promote a more proactive maintenance culture comprehensively

explore the feasibility of establishing an independent material sampling and testing mechanism for quality assurance; and

establish comprehensive communication channels with contractors to enhance contract management.

Source: AI-found images