Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of retail sales totalled MOP17.96 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up by 12.1% year-on-year.
Among the major retail trade activities, the sales value of Communication Equipment surged by 84.1% year-on-year in the second quarter, and the sales values of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles increased by 38.6% and 35.5% respectively. By contrast, the sales values of Department Stores (-18.6%) and Pharmacies (-9.4%) decreased. After removing the effect of prices, the sales volume index rose by 6.2% year-on-year in the second quarter. The sales volume indices of Communication Equipment (+80.1%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+37.0%) increased notably, while the indices of Department Stores (-20.2%) and Automotive Fuels (-10.6%) dropped.
For the first half of 2026, value of retail sales increased by 17.2% year-on-year to MOP39.40 billion, with significant growth in the sales value of Communication Equipment (+88.6%). Besides, the sales values of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles rose by 45.7% and 31.5% year-on-year respectively, whereas the sales values of Department Stores and Supermarkets fell by 8.5% and 6.5%. Meanwhile, the average sales volume index went up by 11.0% year-on-year in the first half year, with marked rises in the indices of Communication Equipment (+85.2%) and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+32.9%). On the other hand, the sales volume indices of Department Stores (-9.7%) and Automotive Fuels (-7.1%) recorded a decrease.
In respect of retailers’ comments, 49.5% of the retailers expected the sales volume to stay stable year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, 46.0% anticipated a decrease in sales volume and 4.5% forecasted an increase. As compared with the second quarter of 2026, about 39.4% envisaged stable performance in the third quarter, 51.9% expected a slowdown in business and 8.7% anticipated a favourable outlook.