Macau: The electronic payment transaction volume of the catering industry in the first quarter increased by 2.2% year-on-year to 3.52 billion Macau dollars.

According to data from the Macao Statistics and Census Bureau, the electronic payment transaction volume of the catering industry in the first quarter of 2025 increased by 2.2% year-on-year to 3.52 billion Macao Patacas (MOP), while the transaction volume of the retail industry declined by 17.4% year-on-year to 13.12 billion MOP. Changes in the catering industry transaction volume In the first quarter of 2025, the transaction volume of the catering industry increased by 2.2% year-on-year, with fast food restaurants (+10.3%) recording the largest increase, followed by Western restaurants and tea cafes and noodle shops with increases of 6.4% and 5.2% respectively. Chinese banquet restaurants and hotels saw a decrease of 1.9%. In March 2025, the transaction volume of the catering industry increased by 2.4% year-on-year to 1.1 billion MOP, with fast food restaurants (+14.1%) showing the largest increase, followed by tea cafes and noodle shops with a 6.5% increase. Western restaurants, on the other hand, saw a decrease of 19.4%. Compared to February, the transaction volume of the catering industry in March decreased by 1.1%. Changes in the retail industry transaction volume In the first quarter of 2025, the transaction volume of the retail industry decreased by 17.4% year-on-year, with department stores and leather goods recording significant declines of 26.6% and 25.9% respectively. Watches and jewelry (-17%) and cosmetics and toiletries (-15.4%) also saw declines, while pharmacies and supermarkets increased by 2.1% and 1.4% respectively. In March 2025, the transaction volume of the retail industry was 3.84 billion MOP, a 13.3% year-on-year decrease. Among the major retail sectors, leather goods and department stores saw declines of 23.6% and 22.4% year-on-year. Compared to February, the transaction volume of the retail industry in March decreased by 9.8%.