Provisional statistics of retail sales for September 2026
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (November 3).
The Census and Statistics Department. Photo source: reference image
The value of total retail sales in September 2026, provisionally estimated at $33.4 billion, increased by 6.4% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in August 2026 increased by 5.6% compared with a year earlier. For the first 9 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 8.3% compared with the same period in 2025.
Of the total retail sales value in September 2026, online sales accounted for 13.1%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $4.4 billion, increased by 12.0% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of online retail sales in August 2026 increased by 9.9% compared with a year earlier. For the first 9 months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 21.2% 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 September 2026 increased by 3.9% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in August 2026 increased by 2.9% compared with a year earlier. For the first 9 months of 2026 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales increased by 5.9% 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 September 2026 with September 2025, the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 9.7%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+20.3% in value); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+11.5%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+5.3%); medicines and cosmetics (+9.0%); wearing apparel (+11.1%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+12.4%); furniture and fixtures (+9.0%); and optical shops (+14.6%).
On the other hand, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased by 1.0% in September 2026 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of commodities in department stores (-4.1% in value); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-0.5%); fuels (-3.1%); motor vehicles and parts (-34.7%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-3.0%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales decreased by 0.1% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the preceding quarter, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 0.2%.
Shops in Hong Kong. Photo source: reference image
Commentary
A government spokesman said that total retail sales value grew at a faster year-on-year rate of 6.4% in September, marking the 17th consecutive month of expansion. Growth in sales was broad-based across many types of retail outlet, reflecting solid local consumption sentiment in general. A pick-up in visitor arrivals and sales of festive items associated with the earlier arrival of Mid-Autumn Festival this year also contributed to growth in overall sales in the month. Meanwhile, online retail sales value rose further visibly alongside consumers' growing use of digital channels.
Looking ahead, sustained solid economic expansion and growth in labour earnings will bolster local consumption. A series of upcoming mega-events and festive celebrations in various districts, together with continued growth in inbound tourism, will inject additional momentum to the retail sector. The Government will continue to monitor the potential impacts of the evolving external headwinds on the local consumption market closely.
Photo source: reference image
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 theC&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).
