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 2025, provisionally estimated at $28.0 billion, decreased by 0.6% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants decreased by 1.5% to $8.8 billion.
 
     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 1.8% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with a year earlier.
 
     Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the first quarter of 2025 with the first quarter of 2024, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 4.9% in value and 6.5% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 2.4% in value and 2.1% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 1.9% in value and 0.3% in volume. Total receipts of bars increased by 6.5% in value and 4.0% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts decreased by 1.8% in value and 3.8% in volume.
 
     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts decreased by 1.3% in value and 1.2% in volume in the first quarter of 2025 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 4.4%, decreased by 5.9% and decreased by 0.6% respectively in January, February and March 2025, compared with the corresponding months in 2024.
 
     After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that the volume of total restaurant receipts increased by 2.9%, decreased by 6.9% and decreased by 1.7% respectively in January, February and March 2025, compared with the corresponding months in 2024.
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that the value of total restaurant receipts saw a modest year-on-year decline of 0.6% in the first quarter of 2025, after registering a mild increase in the preceding quarter.
 
     Looking ahead, the change in consumption patterns continues to affect the performance of the restaurants sector. While the increased uncertainties in the external environment may affect consumer confidence, the rise in local employment earnings, the Government's proactive efforts to promote mega events and tourism, as well as the sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy, will help boost consumption sentiment in the domestic market, providing support to the business of restaurants.
 
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 2024 as well as the provisional figures for the first quarter of 2025.
 
     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 2024 and the provisional indices for the first quarter of 2025.
 
     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 2025 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode540.html) and relevant publications of the Department from June 20, 2025.
 
     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 browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080002&scode=540).
 
     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel.: 3903 7401; e-mail: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:30

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