Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that, driven by the Chinese New Year holiday, the electronic payment transaction values (hereinafter referred to as transaction values) for restaurants & similar establishments and retail trade in February 2026 increased by 14.7% and 46.4% year-on-year, and by 5.9% and 19.6% month-on-month, respectively.
Changes in Transaction Values for Restaurants & Similar Establishments
In February 2026, the transaction value for restaurants & similar establishments totalled MOP1.28 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 14.7% and a month-on-month rise of 5.9%. In the first two months of 2026, the transaction value grew by 3.2% year-on-year to MOP2.48 billion.
All major types of restaurants and similar establishments recorded year-on-year growth in transaction values in February, with the transaction values for Fast-food Restaurants, Western Restaurants and Chinese Restaurants rising by 26.7%, 25.4% and 22.9% respectively. In comparison with January, the transaction value for Chinese Restaurants grew by 28.7%, while that for Local Style Cafes, Congee & Noodle Shops fell by 7.0%.
Changes in Transaction Values for Retail Trade
The transaction value for retail trade totalled MOP6.48 billion in February 2026, up significantly by 46.4% year-on-year and up by 19.6% month-on-month. In the first two months, the transaction value went up by 23.3% year-on-year to MOP11.91 billion.
The transaction values for all major retail activities showed year-on-year increase in February, with the largest rise recorded in the transaction value for Footwear Retailers (+95.3%). Besides, the transaction values for Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers (+69.9%), Adults’ Clothing Retailers (+64.4%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers (+56.9%) registered growth of more than 50%. When compared to January, the transaction values for Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers and Footwear Retailers hiked by 50.7% and 32.6% respectively, whereas that for Pharmacies dropped by 11.3%.
“Statistics on Electronic Payment Transaction Value for Restaurants & Similar Establishments and Retail Trade” are compiled using data from major merchant acquirersnote in the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR), together with information from DSEC. Electronic payment transaction values accounted for about 70% to 80% of the receipts of restaurants & similar establishments and retail trade. The statistics do not include cash transactions, and therefore quarterly and annual data of the two industries should be taken into account when evaluating their overall business performance.
Note: Major merchant acquirers accounted for about 95% of the total electronic payment transaction value in the Macao SAR.