The Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department has recorded a 14th consecutive month of declining retail sales in April 2025, with a 2.3% drop to an estimated $28.9bn. A government spokesperson noted indications of stabilisation in recent retail sales trends.
The provisional estimate for April’s retail sales, adjusted for price changes, showed a 3.3% year-on-year decline.
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This contraction in April was less severe than in previous months, despite the impact of the Easter holiday’s later occurrence in 2025 (in mid-April) as opposed to its timing at the end of March/beginning of April in 2023. In 2025, Easter therefore coincided with an increase in residents traveling abroad.
Online retail sales, which constituted 8.1% of the total retail sales value, were provisionally estimated at $2.3bn – 3.5% down from the same period of the previous year.
Supermarkets saw a 2.4% drop in sales value. Apparel fell 5.6%, jewellery, including watches, clocks and valuable gifts, 1.7%, footwear, related products and other clothing accessories 5.1%, fuels 12.5%, furniture and fixtures 16.7%, motor vehicles and parts a significant 53.4%, and optical items 0.2%.
Some sectors did witness growth, including other consumer goods not elsewhere classified, which saw a 13.4% increase. Medicines and cosmetics rose 7.2%, food and beverages 3%, and electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified 1.6%.
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By GlobalDataThe value of sales of department store commodities increased 2.1%, books and stationery rose 11.7%, and Chinese drugs and herbs also reported sales growth of 3.8%.
The government spokesman conttinued: “… the government’s proactive promotion of tourism and mega events will help stimulate the consumption market. Increase in employment earnings and sustained steady growth of the mainland economy will also bolster consumption sentiment. These factors will be supportive to the retail sector, though ongoing changes in consumption patterns and competition among businesses amid the uncertain macroeconomic environment will still pose challenges”.
