Hong Kong’s retail sales continued to grow for the 17th consecutive month, rising 6.4% year on year to $4.3 billion (HK$33.4 billion) in September 2026, according to the Census and Statistics Department.
When adjusted for price changes, the retail sales volume increased by 3.9% in the same timeframe. Online sales played a significant role in this growth, reaching HK$4.4 billion and accounting for 13.1% of total retail sales, marking a 12% increase from September 2025.
The category of jewellery, watches, clocks, and valuable gifts saw the highest growth, with sales surging by 20.3%. Following closely, optical shops recorded a 14.6% increase, while sales in footwear, allied products, and clothing accessories rose by 12.4%.
Other categories also experienced notable increases: sales of other consumer goods climbed by 11.5%, wearing apparel by 11.1%, and electrical goods along with other consumer durables by 9.7%. Additionally, sales of medicines and cosmetics increased by 9%, and furniture and fixtures saw a rise of 9%. Sales of food, alcoholic drinks, and tobacco grew by 5.3%.
However, some retail categories faced declines. Motor vehicles and parts experienced a significant drop of 34.7%. Other sectors, including department stores, fuels, and Chinese drugs and herbs, reported decreases of 4.1%, 3.1%, and 3%, respectively. Supermarket sales fell by 1%, while books, newspapers, stationery, and gifts saw a slight decline of 0.5%.
The Hong Kong government attributed the overall increase in retail sales to a rise in visitor arrivals and strong sales of festive items linked to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Officials noted that the growth in online retail sales also contributed to the positive trend.
Looking ahead, the government expects factors such as economic expansion, increased labor earnings, upcoming large-scale events, and ongoing celebrations to sustain retail sales growth in the months to come.
