Provisional statistics of retail sales for April 2026
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (June 2).
The value of total retail sales in April 2026, provisionally estimated at $31.4 billion, increased by 8.6% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in March 2026 increased by 12.8% compared with a year earlier. For the first 4 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 11.3% compared with the same period in 2025.
Of the total retail sales value in April 2026, online sales accounted for 9.7%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $3.0 billion, increased by 30.6% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of online retail sales in March 2026 increased by 35.3% compared with a year earlier. For the first 4 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 30.2% 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 April 2026 increased by 6.4% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in March 2026 increased by 9.8% compared with a year earlier. For the first 4 months of 2026 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales increased by 9.0% 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 April 2026 with April 2025, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 14.2%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+19.8% in value); commodities in supermarkets (+3.0%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+21.9%); medicines and cosmetics (+1.7%); wearing apparel (+5.9%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+0.3%); motor vehicles and parts (+46.1%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+4.9%); furniture and fixtures (+6.4%); and optical shops (+6.1%).
On the other hand, the value of sales of commodities in department stores decreased by 6.7% in April 2026 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of fuels (-11.7% in value); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-1.9%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-8.5%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 2.9% in the three months ending April 2026 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 2.0%.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that the value of total retail sales increased solidly by 8.6% in April over a year earlier, with growth in sales of most broad types of retail outlet.
Looking ahead, the retail sector should continue to benefit from ongoing economic expansion, notable increase in inbound visitors and resilient consumption sentiment. The Government will stay alert to the downside risk arising from the evolving geopolitical tensions and their possible effects on the local consumption market.
Further information
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).
Photo source: Shutterstock
DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 5) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.
In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:
Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.
In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:
Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.
The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.
Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:
Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
Seek shade;
Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.
If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.
Source: AI-found images
