Provisional Statistics of Retail Sales for March 2026
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (May 6).
The value of total retail sales in March 2026, provisionally estimated at $33.9 billion, increased by 12.8% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the combined value of total retail sales in January and February 2026 increased by 11.8% compared with the same period a year earlier. For the first quarter of 2026, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 12.1% compared with the same period in 2025.
Of the total retail sales value in March 2026, online sales accounted for 9.7%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $3.3 billion, increased by 35.1% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the combined value of online retail sales in January and February 2026 increased by 27.5% compared with a year earlier. For the first quarter of 2026, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 30.1% compared with the same period in 2025.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in March 2026 increased by 9.8% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the combined volume of total retail sales in January and February 2026 increased by 9.8% compared with the same period a year earlier. For the first quarter of 2026, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales increased by 9.8% in volume compared with the same period in 2025.
Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing March 2026 with March 2025, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 18.1%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+27.2% in value); commodities in supermarkets (+0.6%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+30.1%); medicines and cosmetics (+3.1%); wearing apparel (+8.3%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+1.0%); commodities in department stores (+1.3%); motor vehicles and parts (+80.8%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+3.0%); furniture and fixtures (+0.6%); and optical shops (+7.4%).
On the other hand, the value of sales of fuels decreased by 14.2% in March 2026 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of Chinese drugs and herbs (-5.4% in value); and footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-10.2%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 7.8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the preceding quarter, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 5.4%.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that retail sales continued to strengthen in March. The value of total retail sales increased by 12.8% over a year earlier, with growth in sales of most broad types of retail outlet. Among the various types, sales of motor vehicles showed particularly strong growth, as purchases spiked before the expiry of the first registration tax concessions for electric private cars at end-March.
Looking ahead, the near-term outlook for retail sales is broadly positive, underpinned by recovering local demand, sustained growth in inbound tourism, and a favourable macro-financial environment. The Government will continue to monitor the downside risk arising from the evolving geopolitical tensions, for any potential implications for the consumer spending in the local market.
Further information
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 C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).
Source: AI-found images
