Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2013 totalled MOP 15.55 billion, down by 2% compared with the revised figure of MOP 15.88 billion in the second quarter. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery amounted to MOP 4.49 billion (29% of total), which was followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (16%), Leather Goods (11%) and Adults' Clothing (9%). Value of retail sales for the third quarter increased by 23% year-on-year, with marked increase being observed in sales of Communication Equipment (+50%), Leather Goods (+29%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+27%). Value of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2013 reached MOP 47.30 billion, up by 21% year-on-year; sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 14.53 billion) and Goods in Department Stores (MOP 7.39 billion) accounted for 31% and 16% of the total respectively. After removing the effect of prices, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2013 increased by 25% year-on-year, with notable increase in sales of Communication Equipment (+61%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+38%) and Leather Goods (+32%). Meanwhile, volume of retail sales held stable over the second quarter, of which sales of Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (+47%) and Motor Vehicles (+17%) saw significant quarter-to-quarter increase; on the contrary, sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery decreased by 14% quarter-to-quarter. Volume of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2013 increased by 22% year-on-year. In respect of the comments of the retailers, about 68% stated that sales volume in the third quarter of 2013 increased or held stable over the previous quarter, up by 10 percentage points compared with those holding the same sentiment in the second quarter of 2013, while 32% reported decrease in sales volume. In terms of the retail prices, about 63% reported stable prices, 31% stated an increase and 6% noted a decrease. In comparison with the same quarter of 2012, about 74% expressed that the stock level was normal in the third quarter of 2013, while 6% indicated that the stock level was low. As regards business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2013, about 35% anticipate that sales volume will increase from the third quarter, 43% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 22% foresee a decrease. Concurrently, about 71% predict stable retail prices, 24% expect an increase, while 5% predict a decrease in retail prices.
