Hong Kong September Retail Sales Statistics Scheduled for Release on November 3
Key Facts
Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department was scheduled to release retail sales statistics for September on November 3, 2026, according to the government’s release calendar. In data available ahead of that date, the value of total sales in August was HK$32.1 billion, up 5.6% from a year earlier. The volume of sales, which measures quantities rather than monetary value, also rose 2.9% year over year. August figures provide the latest documented picture of the sector before September data are released. The statistics cover the value and volume of sales, two measures that offer different readings of retail trade performance.
August data showed that online sales reached HK$2.8 billion, up 9.9% from the same month a year earlier. They accounted for 8.7% of total retail sales value during the month, according to the Census and Statistics Department. This means online sales grew faster than the overall value of sales, while remaining part of the sector’s total. The August online sales estimates were provisional, as were the total sales value and volume figures in the report. These figures provide a basis for comparison when September data are released.
Government background for the first quarter shows that retail sales value rose 11.8% year over year in January and February combined, then 12.8% in March. The government said this pace reflected a firm recovery in domestic consumption. In digital commerce, online sales value rose 30.1% year over year in the first quarter, with a share of about 8.7% of total sales. Growth was also broad-based across categories: sales of motor vehicles and parts rose 51.3%, while sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods increased 31.7% during the quarter. These earlier indicators show the sector’s strong momentum at the start of the year, but they relate to the first quarter and do not represent September data.
The government attributed part of the improvement in retail sales in the first quarter to supportive consumer sentiment, amid continued economic growth, higher labor incomes, an active stock market and a stable housing market. It said these factors were expected to continue supporting consumer confidence. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, the government saw continued economic growth, inbound tourism and strong domestic consumption as supportive factors for sales. It cautioned, however, that geopolitical tensions and external uncertainty could weigh on spending by consumers and visitors. The release of September data on November 3 remains the next scheduled date for a newer official reading of the sector.