Golden Week failed to have a positive impact on Macau retail sales according to data collected by Macao Economic Services.
Interviews with 1200 merchants on the Macau Peninsula and Taipa revealed an increase in customer numbers, but a decline in the average spend comparing this year’s Golden Week (October 1 – 7) with last year’s.
But while sales were down year-on-year, they were still running at levels higher than ordinary non-holiday periods, retailers reported.
Some 45 per cent of retailers interviewed reported higher than average flows of customers during the Golden Week, 39 per cent reported an average increase of 22 per cent in sales and 42 per cent said sales were about the same as last year.  And 19 per cent said their sales shrank.
The DSE said cosmetic retailers recorded sales increases of an average of 15 per cent. Vendors of electronic products, souvenirs, jewellery and watches also reported increased sales, of mixed proportions.