Department stores boosts retail in Macau

 

Department stores have led the way in retail in Macau, with 89 per cent reporting better sales (up 11 points) for March.

They were followed by cosmetics and sanitary articles (67 per cent), down 33 points. About 15 per cent of retailers saw their sales decline, up eight points from February.

Retailers interviewed were cautious about their business performance last month, most expecting a drop.

Most eating establishments in Macau had a buoyant March, with a small slice reporting a decline in income, according to the latest DSEC Catering and Retail Business Survey.

Of the restaurants and similar establishments surveyed by the Statistics and Census Service, 59 per cent reported an increase in receipts in March while 19 per cent had a year-on-year decline.

The data was taken from the value of receipts based on a sample of 167 restaurants (53 per cent of the industry’s receipts) and 135 retailers (70  per cent of receipts).

Of the restaurants surveyed, a record 82 per cent of Chinese outlets led the charge, while the share of Japanese and Korean restaurants with higher receipts surged 53 points to 73 per cent.

There was a 16-point drop in restaurants with depressed sales to 19 per cent, while 13 per cent of Japanese and Korean restaurants fell by 33 points.

Restaurants interviewed said they expected business to weaken last month, with 17 per cent anticipating a 6 per cent drop in year-on-year growth in receipts.

Among surveyed retail outlets, 80 per cent of leather goods retailers expected their turnover to grow, up 20 points from March. On the other hand, 21 per cent of retailers surveyed expect their turnover to decline.