HONG KONG, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's retail sales by value in September rose 5.9% from a year earlier, the fifth straight month of gains, government data showed on Friday.
Sales increased to HK$31.3 billion ($4.03 billion). In August, retail sales rose 3.9% from the same month the year before.
In volume terms, September retail sales increased by 4.8% from a year earlier, compared with a revised 3.4% rise in August.
For the first nine months of 2025, the value of total retail sales declined by 1% from the same period in 2024, and volume fell 2.3%.
"Looking ahead, improving local consumer sentiment and sustained growth in inbound tourism should continue to render support to retail businesses," a government spokesperson said.
Visitor arrivals in September surged to 3.29 million, up 8% from the same month a year earlier, according to Hong Kong Tourism Board data.
Mainland Chinese visitors accounted for 2.46 million of these arrivals, a 7% increase year-on-year.
Sales of jewellery, watches, clocks and valuable gifts rose 9.1% year-on-year in September after a revised 16.4% increase in August.
Sales of clothing, footwear and allied products fell 10.2% year-on-year in September following a revised 2.8% rise in August.
($1 = 7.7675 Hong Kong dollars)
Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Mark Potter
Source: Reuters