Macau retail rebounded in July from the first half of the year, according to a survey by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
In its first-ever Business Climate Survey on Restaurants & Similar Establishments and Retail Trade, the DSEC says 26 per cent of the 135 retailers it interviewed posted a year-on-year growth in sales in July.
Spearheading the growth are leather goods retailers (80 per cent) and supermarkets (67 per cent). Of the supermarket respondents, 33 per cent had 20 per cent or more growth.
However, 78 per cent of department stores claim a decline in sales for July compared to one year ago.
DSEC says the city’s retailers are not optimistic. Only 15 per cent of interviewed retailers expect year-on-year growth in sales for August, while 28 per cent expect sales to remain stable and 57 per cent anticipate a drop in sales.
Meanwhile, restaurants had an upswing. The DSEC survey shows 34 per cent of the 167 restaurants covered had year-on-year growth in receipts, a record high for the seven months. The proportion of restaurants recording a decline shrank to 43 per cent.
Looking ahead, 15 per cent of restaurants anticipate growth for August while 44 per cent expect no change.
DSEC says the survey will be monthly going forward.