The value of total retail sales in September 1997, estimated at $19.5 billion, increased by 6% when compared with September 1996. After discounting the effect of price changes over the period, total retail sales increased by 3% in volume.

These are provisional figures on retail sales released today by the Census and Statistics Department.

Compared with a year ago, sales of motor vehicles continued to record a robust increase, by 27% in value and 28% in volume. Sales of other consumer durable goods also increased significantly, by 11% in value and 12% in volume.

Concurrently, sales in other types of outlets recorded increases of various magnitudes in both value and volume. Sales in these outlets included miscellaneous consumer goods (9% in value and 4% in volume); jewellery, watches and clocks and valuable gifts (2% in value and 4% in volume) and food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (3% in value and 2% in volume).

Sales of fuels grew by 7% in value, but remained virtually unchanged in volume.

On the other hand, sales in supermarkets increased by 6% in value, but decreased by 2% in volume. Sales of clothing and footwear rose by 1% in value, but registered a decline of 6% in volume. Sales in department stores decreased by 4% in value and 9% in volume.

Compared with August 1997 (but bearing in mind that this comparison is affected by seasonal factors), total retail sales in September 1997 decreased by 5% in both value and volume.

Comparing the period from January to September 1997 with the same period in 1996, total retail sales rose by 8% in value and 3% in volume.

The volume of retail sales is derived from the value of retail sales after adjusting for price changes. The relevant components of the Consumer Price Index are used as deflators.

Table 1 presents the revised total retail sales figure for August 1997 and the provisional figure for September 1997.

Table 2 shows the value and volume indices of retail sales in September 1996, August and September 1997 for all retail outlets and by type of retail outlets, with average retail sales from October 1994 to September 1995 taken as 100. Comparisons of the September 1997 results with those for August 1997 and those for September 1996, as well as comparison of retail sales in the period from January to September of 1997 with the same period in 1996 are also given.

Starting from the reference month of January 1997, a new series of value and volume indices reflecting changes in the combined sales of supermarkets and supermarkets operating in department stores was compiled. The new indices were shown in Table 2 as supplementary statistics to provide further reference for certain analytical purposes.

The report containing the analysis of the September 1997 results is now on sale at $3 per copy at the Government Publications Centre, ground floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway; and the Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department, 19th floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

Enquiries about the survey results may be directed to the Wholesale and Retail Trade Statistics Section of the Census and Statistics Department on (852)2802 1258.