The relevant components of the Consumer Price Index are used as deflators.

The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in November 2010, at $27.0 billion, increased by 18.1% when compared with November 2009, while the volume of total retail sales increased by 15.4%.

Analysed by broad type of retail outlet and comparing December 2010 with December 2009, the volume of sales of miscellaneous consumer durable goods increased the most, by 103.6%.  This was followed by sales of footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+29.8% in volume); electrical goods and photographic equipment (+27.8%); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+24.7%); miscellaneous consumer goods (+14.5%); wearing apparel (+14.2%); furniture and fixtures (+13.0%); commodities in supermarkets (+9.4%); motor vehicles and parts (+7.4%); commodities in department stores (+6.7%); and food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+3.1%).

On the other hand, the volume of sales of fuels decreased by 3.2% in December 2010 when compared with a year earlier.

Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the volume of total retail sales increased by 8.0% in the fourth quarter of 2010 when compared with the preceding quarter.

For 2010 as a whole, total retail sales increased by 18.3% in value or 15.5% in volume over 2009.

Analysed by broad type of retail outlet and comparing the whole year of 2010 with 2009, the volume of sales of miscellaneous consumer durable goods increased the most, by 49.8%.  This was followed by sales of motor vehicles and parts (+36.8% in volume); electrical goods and photographic equipment (+28.6%); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+26.0%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+18.3%); wearing apparel (+15.3%); commodities in department stores (+12.5%); furniture and fixtures (+11.9%); miscellaneous consumer goods (+9.5%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+6.2%); commodities in supermarkets (+3.5%); and fuels (+1.5%).

These retail sales statistics are primarily intended to measure the sales receipts of goods sold by local retail establishments, for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. They cover consumer spending on goods but not on services. Moreover, they include spending on goods by visitors in Hong Kong but not by Hong Kong residents outside Hong Kong. Hence they should not be regarded as a comprehensive indicator of overall consumer spending. In this context, it may be noted that the share of consumer spending on services in overall consumer spending has been increasing over time.

Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the quarterly series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether domestically or abroad.

Percentage Rate of Change of Total Retail Sales, 2008-2010
(over the same period of the preceding year)


2008-2010 Composite Consumer Price Index (year-on-year % change)


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