Hong Kong retail sales climb 7.9% in May

Hong Kong's retail sales jumped 7.9% in May 2026 compared to the same month last year, reaching HK$33.8 billion.

According to the latest figures released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in April 2026 increased by 8.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first five months of 2026, it was provisionally estimated that total retail sales increased by 10.6% compared with the same period in 2025.

Of the total retail sales value in May 2026, online sales accounted for 10.1%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $3.4 billion, increased by 32.3% compared with the same month in 2025. 

Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing May 2026 with May 2025, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 14.8%. 

This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+25.8% in value); commodities in supermarkets (+0.9%); wearing apparel (+3%); commodities in department stores (+9.2%); medicines and cosmetics (+3.5%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+13%); motor vehicles and parts (+1.7%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+4.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+4.5%); furniture and fixtures (+4.6%); and optical shops (+10.3%).

On the other hand, the value of sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco decreased by 0.3% in May 2026 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of fuels (-12.2% in value); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-9.5%).

Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 4.6% in the three months ending May 2026 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 2.2%. 

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Looking ahead, a government spokesman said the ongoing economic expansion and sustained growth in local labour earnings, together with continued increase in inbound visitors, should benefit the retail businesses. The government will closely monitor the potential implications of the evolving external uncertainties on the local consumption market. 

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