Supermarkets were the only retail business that reported an increase in sales in the first quarter of this year, a survey conducted by the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) revealed.
According to the survey, overall retail sales for the first quarter of 2020 fell by 45.1 per cent year-on-year to MOP11.2 billion (US$1.4 billion) due to the pandemic, with 80 per cent of inquired retailers forecasting another drop in sales for the second quarter of this year.
However, while most retail sectors saw decreases when compared to the same period of last year, the sales value of supermarkets to about MOP1.4 billion in the first three months of this year.
Meanwhile, the sales values of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery reported a sharp fall of 57.5 per cent year-on-year to some MOP1.8 billion – the highest amount recorded – with department stores going down 56.4 per cent to MOP1.5 billion, adults’ clothing by 53 per cent to MOP1.1 billion and leather goods by 51.0 per cent to MOP1.3 billion.
The period under review did not cover the MOP2.1 billion consumer e-voucher scheme initiated by the local government in May and set to last until July.
In just the first 20 days of the consumer scheme about MOP962 million have already been spent, most of it in local food and beverage businesses and supermarkets.
