Hong Kong: Provisional estimate of total retail sales value for September is HK$33.4 billion, up 6.4% year on year

3 November: The Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government today released the latest retail sales figures. The provisional estimate of the total retail sales value for September 2026 was HK$33.4 billion, up 6.4% year on year. The revised estimate of the total retail sales value for August 2026 rose 5.6% year on year. Compared with the same period in 2025, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales value for the first nine months of 2026 rose 8.3%. Online sales accounted for 13.1% of the total retail sales value in September 2026. The provisional estimate of the retail sales value of online sales for the month was HK$4.4 billion, up 12.0% year on year. The revised estimate of the retail sales value of online sales for August 2026 rose 9.9% year on year. Compared with the same period in 2025, the provisional estimate of the retail sales value of online sales for the first nine months of 2026 rose 21.2%. After adjusting for price changes over the period, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales volume for September 2026 rose 3.9% year on year. The revised estimate of the total retail sales volume for August 2026 rose 2.9% year on year. Compared with the same period in 2025, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales volume for the first nine months of 2026 rose 5.9%. Analysed by major retailer category in descending order of provisional estimate of sales value, compared with September 2025, the sales value of electrical goods and other unclassified durable consumer goods rose 9.7% in September 2026. This was followed by jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (sales value up 20.3%); other unclassified consumer goods (up 11.5%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (up 5.3%); medicines and cosmetics (up 9.0%); wearing apparel (up 11.1%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (up 12.4%); furniture and fixtures (up 9.0%); and optical shops (up 14.6%). On the other hand, compared with September 2025, the sales value of supermarket goods fell 1.0% in September 2026. This was followed by department store goods (sales value down 4.1%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (down 0.5%); fuel (down 3.1%); motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts (down 34.7%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (down 3.0%). Compared with the second quarter of 2026, the seasonally adjusted provisional estimate of the total retail sales value for the third quarter of 2026 fell 0.1%, while the seasonally adjusted provisional estimate of the total retail sales volume fell 0.2%. A government spokesman said that the year-on-year growth in total retail sales value accelerated to 6.4% in September, marking the seventeenth consecutive month of expansion. Sales growth was broad-based, with increases recorded across many retailer categories, reflecting generally stable local consumer sentiment. The earlier timing of the Mid-Autumn Festival this year than last year boosted visitor arrivals and sales of related festive goods, also contributing to overall sales growth during the month. Meanwhile, as consumers increasingly adopt digital channels, the value of online retail sales rose further significantly. Looking ahead, continued steady economic expansion and growth in employment earnings will support local consumption. A series of upcoming mega events and district festive activities, together with continued growth in inbound tourism, will add impetus to the retail sector. The Government will continue to closely monitor the potential impact of evolving external headwinds on the local consumer market.