Retail Sales in July 2026 Rise 4.5% Year-on-Year, Online Sales Surge 9.5%

2026-08-31 16:30 Last Updated At：18:35

Provisional statistics of retail sales for July 2026

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (August 31).

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The Census and Statistics Department, Photo source: reference image

Photo source: reference image

The value of total retail sales in July 2026, provisionally estimated at $31.0 billion, increased by 4.5% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in June 2026 increased by 4.6% compared with a year earlier. For the first 7 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 8.9% compared with the same period in 2025.

Of the total retail sales value in July 2026, online sales accounted for 9.1%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $2.8 billion, increased by 9.5% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of online retail sales in June 2026 increased by 11.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first 7 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 24.9% 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 July 2026 increased by 2.3% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in June 2026 increased by 2.3% compared with a year earlier. For the first 7 months of 2026 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales increased by 6.6% 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 July 2026 with July 2025, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts increased by 19.7%. This was followed by sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+10.5% in value); commodities in supermarkets (+0.3%); medicines and cosmetics (+7.3%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+11.5%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+1.7%); commodities in department stores (+0.5%); and optical shops (+1.8%).

On the other hand, the value of sales of wearing apparel decreased by 1.8% in July 2026 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-2.8% in value); motor vehicles and parts (-18.2%); fuels (-18.0%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-0.3%); furniture and fixtures (-2.4%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-13.7%).

Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales decreased by 1.7% in the three months ending July 2026 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 0.1%.

Commentary

A government spokesman said that retail sales growth momentum remained resilient in July, marking the 15th consecutive month of expansion. Total retail sales value growth was steady at 4.5% year-on-year, while stronger online retail sales growth suggests that consumer spending continued to shift toward digital channels.

Looking ahead, continued economic expansion, rising household incomes, and stable labour market conditions should bolster consumer sentiment. A series of upcoming mega-events is also expected to sustain growth in visitor arrivals, providing further support to retail businesses. However, external headwinds are still evolving. The Government will continue to monitor the relevant potential impacts on the local consumption market closely.

Further information

The classification of retail companies follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification 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).

Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao Customs Convene IP Enforcement Meeting to Enhance Cooperation

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting convened

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). The Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise, Mr Mark Woo; the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, Mr Bi Kexin; and the Assistant Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Ip Wa-chio, led respective delegations to attend the meeting in Hong Kong.

During the meeting, the three Customs administrations summarised recent enforcement outcomes of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. Taking the 12-day joint enforcement operation conducted from July 20 to July 31 as an example, the three administrations stepped up inspections of goods destined for countries and regions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, and eventually succeeded in combatting cross-boundary and transhipment counterfeiting activities. Through risk assessment, Hong Kong Customs in the operation targeted high-value counterfeit goods at local express couriers and logistics companies, seizing a total of about 38 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phones and accessories, with a total estimated market value of about $15 million.

In addition, the three Customs administrations agreed toput forward three collaboration directions for IPR enforcement in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA): (1) to deepen targeted joint operations, conducting cross-regional joint enforcement targeting key control points and commodities; (2) to streamline multilevel intelligence communication channels by refining dual-directional intelligence feedback arrangements, thereby further enhancing the overall effectiveness of cross-boundary collaborative enforcement; and (3) to enhance communication and collaboration with rights holders by elevating IPR protection across the three administrations into a multi-party synergistic paradigm engaging law enforcement agencies, industry organisations and rights holders. The three parties will join hands to build an "IPR Protection Umbrella" for the GBA, helping more national brands expand into international markets.

The Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC delegation also visited an express operation centre in Tuen Mun to understand Hong Kong Customs' enforcement work regarding express supervision, and how the department enhances risk profiling and enforcement effectiveness through maintaining close liaison with the industry and strengthening information exchanges, thereby jointly combatting cross-boundary counterfeiting activities via express parcel channels while facilitating legitimate trade.

The Customs authorities of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have all along placed great importance on IPR protection. In order to implement the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the three have strengthened their collaboration in IPR protection through intelligence exchanges, joint operations, and visits and exchanges since 2019. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting also serves as a valuable platform for them to summarise co-operative achievements, exchange enforcement experiences, and formulate future enforcement strategies.

Retail Sales in July 2026 Rise 4.5% Year-on-Year, Online Sales Surge 9.5%

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