Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the first quarter of 2020 fell by 45.1% year-on-year to MOP11.24 billion amid the epidemic, and the sales volume index dropped by 44.8%.

As compared to the first quarter of 2019, sales values of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-57.5%), Department Stores (-56.4%), Adults’ Clothing (-52.9%) and Leather Goods (-51.0%) declined, whereas sale value of Supermarkets (+14.0%) increased. As regards volume of retail sales, sales volumes of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-60.7%), Department Stores (-54.3%), Adults’ Clothing (-48.2%) and Leather Goods (-47.3%) decreased, while sales volume of Supermarkets (+11.9%) showed growth.

Value of retail sales in the first quarter of 2020 dropped by 45.8% as compared with the revised figure (MOP20.75 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2019. Sales values of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-57.5%), Department Stores (-54.5%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (-54.0%) recorded decreases, whereas sales value of Supermarkets (+10.2%) increased. Sales volume index fell by 45.5% quarter-to-quarter, of which the indices of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-59.0%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (-53.7%) and Department Stores (-53.5%) declined, while the index of Supermarkets (+8.4%) registered a rise.

In respect of retailers’ comments, 80.5% of the retailers anticipated a year-on-year decrease in sales volume in the second quarter of 2020, 13.3% expected the sales volume to stay stable and 6.2% forecasted an increase. Meanwhile, 68.1% of the retailers anticipated the retail prices will remain steady year-on-year in the second quarter, 27.0% foresaw a decrease and 4.9% expected an increase. As compared with the first quarter of 2020, about 52.9% of the retailers envisaged sluggish business in the second quarter, whereas retailers expecting stable performance (23.9%) and those anticipating a favourable outlook (23.2%) together accounted for 47.1% of the total.