Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2014 totalled MOP 15.82 billion, down by 3% compared with the revised figure of MOP 16.38 billion in the second quarter. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 4.11 billion) accounted for 26% of the total, which was followed by retail sales of Goods in Department Stores (17%), Leather Goods (9%), Adults' Clothing (9%), Goods in Supermarkets (7%) and Motor Vehicles (6%). Value of retail sales for the third quarter decreased by 1% year-on-year, with marked decrease being observed in sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-15%), Leather Goods (-12%) and Motor Vehicles (-11%). On the other hand, sales of Chinese Food Products (+45%), Footwear (+39%) and Household Appliances (+28%) saw significant increase. Value of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2014 reached MOP 50.56 billion, up by 6% year-on-year; sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 13.65 billion) and Goods in Department Stores (MOP 8.62 billion) accounted for 27% and 17% of the total respectively. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2014 decreased by 2% year-on-year, with notable decrease in sales of Dried Seafood (-27%), Furniture & Lighting (-19%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-14%), Leather Goods (-14%) and Motor Vehicles (-13%); on the contrary, sales of Footwear and Chinese Food Products increased significantly by 41% and 38% respectively. Meanwhile, volume of retail sales decreased by 3% quarter-to-quarter, of which sales of Dried Seafood (-42%), Motor Vehicles (-18%) and Fuels for Household Use (-18%) marked notable decline; however, sales of Automotive Fuels increased by 13% quarter-to-quarter. Volume of retail sales for the first three quarters increased by 7% year-on-year. In respect of the comments of the retailers, about 52% stated that sales volume in the third quarter of 2014 increased or held stable over the previous quarter, down by 1 percentage point compared with the corresponding figure in the second quarter of 2014, while 48% reported decrease in sales volume. In terms of the retail prices, about 63% reported stable prices, 18% stated an increase and 19% noted a decrease. Moreover, about 71% of the retailers expressed that the stock level remained stable compared with the third quarter of 2013, while 18% indicated that the stock level decreased. As regards business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2014, about 27% of the retailers anticipate that sales volume will increase from the third quarter, 54% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 19% foresee a decrease. Concurrently, about 66% predict stable retail prices, 26% expect an increase, while 8% predict a decrease in retail prices.
