Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department (C&SD, 政府统计处) released provisional August 2026 retail figures on 2 October 2026. Total retail sales value was HK$32.1 billion, up 5.6 percent year on year. In this article, we look at value and volume growth, online sales and results by type of retail outlet.
August retail sales value rose 5.6% to HK$32.1 billion
According to the Hong Kong government release, the provisional value of total retail sales in August 2026 rose 5.6 percent from August 2025. Sales volume, which removes the effect of price changes, rose 2.9 percent.
For January–August 2026, value rose 8.5 percent and volume 6.1 percent year on year. A government spokesman said August marked the 16th consecutive month of year-on-year growth in sales value.
| Measure | July 2026 (revised) | August 2026 (provisional) | January–August 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total sales value, y-o-y | +4.5% | +5.6% | +8.5% |
| Total sales volume, y-o-y | +2.4% | +2.9% | +6.1% |
| Online sales value, y-o-y | +9.6% | +9.9% | +23.0% |
| Total sales value | Not stated | HK$32.1 billion | Not stated |
| Online share of total value | Not stated | 8.7% | Not stated |
Unit: %
Year on year; August provisional, July revised · Source: Census and Statistics Department, 2 October 2026
View as table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| July value | 4.5% |
| July volume | 2.4% |
| August value | 5.6% |
| August volume | 2.9% |
| Jan-Aug value | 8.5% |
| Jan-Aug volume | 6.1% |
Online sales reached HK$2.8 billion, 8.7% of the total
Provisional online retail sales were HK$2.8 billion in August, up 9.9 percent year on year. Online sales accounted for 8.7 percent of total retail sales value.
Online sales rose 23.0 percent in January–August 2026. The spokesman linked the online growth to a continued shift in consumer spending towards digital channels.
Jewellery and watches, the largest outlet type, rose 11.9%
The release lists outlet types in descending order of sales value. The largest, jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts, rose 11.9 percent in value. Medicines and cosmetics rose 5.6 percent, and electrical goods and other consumer durables rose 29.1 percent.
Five outlet types recorded lower sales value. Motor vehicles and parts fell 22.0 percent, fuels 11.7 percent and Chinese drugs and herbs 6.0 percent.
Unit: %
August 2026 vs August 2025, value; provisional · Source: Census and Statistics Department, 2 October 2026
View as table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Jewellery, watches and valuable gifts | 11.9% |
| Other consumer goods n.e.c. | 9.6% |
| Supermarket commodities | 2.1% |
| Electrical and other consumer durables | 29.1% |
| Medicines and cosmetics | 5.6% |
| Food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco | 1.9% |
| Books, stationery and gifts | 11.2% |
| Footwear and clothing accessories | 0.6% |
| Furniture and fixtures | 3.0% |
| Optical shops | 5.9% |
| Wearing apparel | -0.5% |
| Department store commodities | -2.6% |
| Motor vehicles and parts | -22.0% |
| Fuels | -11.7% |
| Chinese drugs and herbs | -6.0% |
Seasonally adjusted value fell 4.6% over three months
On a seasonally adjusted basis, total retail sales value in the three months to August 2026 fell 4.6 percent from the preceding three months. Volume fell 3.4 percent on the same basis.
Statistical scope
- Publisher: Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong SAR Government; figures for Hong Kong only, not mainland China.
- August 2026 figures are provisional; July 2026 figures are revised.
- Value is in current prices; volume excludes the effect of price changes.
- Outlet-type changes are by type of retail outlet, not by product sold.
- The press release text gives outlet-type changes in value only.
