Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the business of restaurants & similar establishments remained subdued in March 2019, with 36% of the interviewed establishments recording a year-on-year decline in receipts, up by 3 percentage points from February. The corresponding proportions of Japanese & Korean Restaurants (35%) and Western Restaurants (26%) increased by 13 percentage points and 11 percentage points respectively, whereas the share of Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops (18%) dropped by 17 percentage points. On the other hand, 30% of the interviewed establishments reported a year-on-year rise in receipts in March, down by 4 percentage points from February. The corresponding proportion of Japanese & Korean Restaurants (17%) fell by 13 percentage points.

Retail sales stabilised, with 35% of the interviewed retailers registering a year-on-year sales increase in March, up by 17 percentage points from February. The corresponding proportion of Supermarkets surged by 45 percentage points to 67%. Meanwhile, 45% of the interviewed retailers reported a year-on-year decrease in sales, a drop of 24 percentage points from February. The corresponding proportions of Adults’ Clothing Retailers (55%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers (56%) declined by 30 percentage points and 28 percentage points respectively. Moreover, all of the interviewed Supermarkets and Leather Goods Retailers recorded year-on-year sales rise or steady performance.

The interviewed restaurants & similar establishments expected no significant improvement in business in April, with 35% of them anticipating a year-on-year decrease in receipts, up by 5 percentage points from March. Meanwhile, 18% of the interviewed establishments predicted a year-on-year growth in receipts, a 3 percentage point rise from March. Among the various types of interviewed establishments, 44% of the Japanese & Korean Restaurants expected a year-on-year decline in receipts, an increase of 22 percentage points, whereas the proportion of Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops (20%) anticipating a year-on-year rise in receipts grew by 8 percentage points.

Retailers expected their sales to be stable in April, with 68% of them anticipating their sales to increase year-on-year or remain steady, a 4 percentage point rise from March. Among the interviewed retailers, all of the Leather Goods Retailers forecasted a year-on-year sales rise or steady performance in April, with the proportion rising by 20 percentage points from March; the corresponding share of Department Stores remained at 91%. On the other hand, half of the interviewed Motor Vehicle Retailers and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers predicted a year-on-year sales decrease in April, with both proportions dropping by 10 percentage points from March.

The sample of the Business Climate Survey on Restaurants & Similar Establishments and Retail Trade was selected based on the value of receipts of the establishments, comprising 186 restaurants & similar establishments (accounting for 53% of the industry’s receipts) and 136 retailers (accounting for 70% of the industry’s receipts) after rotating some of the samples. The Survey results were not extrapolated and only reflect the assessment of the business performance and expectations of the sample restaurants and retailers.