The Zhitong Finance App learned that on November 3, the Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government published the latest retail sales figures. The provisional estimate of total retail sales value in September 2026 was HK$33.4 billion, up 6.4% from the same month of 2025. The revised estimate of total retail sales value in August 2026 was 5.6% higher than in the same month of 2025. Compared with the same period in 2025, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales value for the first nine months of 2026 increased by 8.3%.
Online sales accounted for 13.1% of the total retail sales value in September 2026. The provisional estimated retail online sales value for the month was HK$4.4 billion, up 12.0% from the same month of 2025. The revised estimate for August 2026 is an increase of 9.9% in the retail industry's online sales value compared to the same month of 2025. Compared with the same period in 2025, the total retail online sales value for the first nine months of 2026 is estimated to have increased by 21.2%.
After deducting price changes during this period, the provisional estimate for total retail sales volume in September 2026 was 3.9% higher than in the same month of 2025. The revised estimate for total retail sales volume in August 2026 was 2.9% higher than in the same month of 2025. Compared with the same period in 2025, the total retail sales volume for the first nine months of 2026 is tentatively estimated to increase by 5.9%.
Provisional estimates of sales value by major retailer categories were analyzed from highest to lowest. Compared between September 2026 and September 2025, the sales value of electrical appliances and other unclassified durable consumer goods increased by 9.7%. This was followed by jewellery, watches and luxury gifts (up 20.3% in sales value); other unclassified consumer goods (up 11.5%); food, alcohol and tobacco (up 5.3%); pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (up 9.0%); clothing (up 11.1%); footwear, related products and other clothing accessories (up 12.4%); furniture and fixtures (up 9.0%); and eyewear stores (up 14.6%).
On the other hand, compared with September 2026 and the same month of 2025, the sales value of supermarket products decreased by 1.0%. This was followed by department store products (sales value down 4.1%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (down 0.5%); fuel (down 3.1%); automobiles and auto parts (down 34.7%); and traditional Chinese medicine (down 3.0%).
Compared to the third quarter of 2026 and the second quarter, the provisional estimated seasonally adjusted total retail sales value decreased by 0.1%, while the seasonally adjusted provisional estimate of total retail sales volume decreased by 0.2%.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said that in September, the total sales value of the retail industry accelerated to 6.4% year-on-year, and recorded expansion for the 17th consecutive month. Sales growth was widespread, with sales growth in various retailer categories, reflecting a generally stable local consumer climate. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival was earlier than last year, leading to an increase in the number of visitors to Hong Kong and sales of related holiday products, which also contributed to overall sales growth during the month. At the same time, as consumers increasingly use digital channels, the value of online retail sales has increased significantly.
Looking ahead, continued steady economic expansion and employment income growth will support local consumption. In the future, a series of major events and regional festivals, as well as the continued growth of tourism in Hong Kong, will add momentum to the retail industry. The Government will continue to closely monitor the potential impact of the evolution of external adverse factors on the local consumer market.