Retail sales decline for eighth straight month in October

Dec 7, 2015Updated May 30, 20251 min read

Retail sales in Hong Kong dropped for the eighth consecutive month in October amid a decline in the number of mainland tourists.

October sales fell 3 percent year on year to HK$37.2 billion, against an estimated decline of 5 percent, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reported.

By volume, retailed sales edged up 1.2 percent, compared with a 3 percent drop in September.

The improvement in the city’s retail sales volume was attributed to Apple’s launch of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which pushed up sales of consumer goods.

However, sales of luxury goods such as jewelries, watches and accessories continued to slump.

Thomson Cheng, chairman of the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, expects the weak trend in retail sales to persist for the remainder of the year as more Hong Kong people travel abroad during the festive season.

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Mei Ling Tan

Contributor · RetailNews.asia

Mei Ling Tan is the Editor of Retail News Asia, where she leads the editorial team in delivering in-depth coverage of Asia’s dynamic retail landscape. With over a decade of experience in business journalism, Mei Ling is known for her sharp analysis, deep industry insights, and commitment to uncovering the stories behind Asia’s most innovative retail brands. Before joining Retail News Asia, Mei Ling held senior reporting roles at regional business publications, covering everything from consumer trends to digital transformation in retail. A graduate of the National University of Singapore with a degree in Communications and New Media, she combines journalistic integrity with a strong understanding of evolving market forces. Outside the newsroom, Mei Ling is a frequent speaker at industry panels and a mentor for young journalists.

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