Provisional statistics of restaurant receipts and purchases for first quarter of 2019
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     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (May 7).

     The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the first quarter of 2019, provisionally estimated at $31.5 billion, increased by 3.0% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants increased by 3.1% to $10.0 billion.

     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts increased by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with a year earlier.

     Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the first quarter of 2019 with the first quarter of 2018, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 0.6% in value and 2.7% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 4.8% in value and 2.4% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 5.8% in value and 2.8% in volume. Total receipts of bars increased by 2.6% in value and 0.4% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts increased by 11.2% in value and 7.0% in volume.

     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts increased by 3.9% in value and 2.8% in volume in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the preceding quarter.

     To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled.

     Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector increased by 6.7%, 0.8% and 1.4% respectively in January, February and March 2019, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier.

     After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that the volume of total restaurant receipts increased by 3.8% in January 2019, but decreased by 1.3% and 1.0% respectively in February and March 2019, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier.

Further information

     Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the fourth quarter of 2018 as well as the provisional figures for the first quarter of 2019.

     Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the fourth quarter of 2018 and the provisional indices for the first quarter of 2019.

     Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series.

     The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the first quarter of 2019 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/bbs.jsp) and relevant publications of the Department from June 20, 2019.

     The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.

     More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp320.jsp?productCode=B1080002).

     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7401; email: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:30

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