Hong Kong August retail sales rise 5.6%

Hong Kong’s August retail sales value jumped ⁠5.6% from a year earlier to HK$32.1 billion ($4.09 billion) for a 16th month of gains, government data showed on Friday.

In July, Hong Kong’s ⁠retail sales value ‌rose by 4.5% year on year. Growth was seen across many types of retail outlets, while online retail sales ​value ​grew notably, reflecting a continued shift in consumer spending towards digital channels.

For the first eight months of 2026, the ‌total retail ​sales value increased by 8.5% compared to a year earlier. “Looking ‌ahead, sustained economic expansion ⁠and rising labour earnings should support local consumption ‌sentiment and spending,” a government spokesperson said, with growth in visitor arrivals to further inject vibrancy into the sector.

Visitor arrivals in August rose by 5.9% year on year to 5.46 ​million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed. The number of mainland Chinese visitors increased by 8.2% year on year to ​4.57 million.

Sales ​of jewellery, watches, clocks, and valuable ‌gifts rose ‌by 11.9% year on year in August after a revised 19.9% growth in July. Sales of clothing, footwear, ‌and allied products slipped 0.3% ​in August after a 1.6% fall in July.