While dining establishments are more buoyant, Macau retailers have had a more difficult April, latest figures from the Statistics and Census Services (DSEC) show.
Up five points from March, 52 per cent of restaurants and other dining outlets had receipts grow year-on-year in April. Western restaurants lead the way with receipts up 15 points, followed by Chinese eateries on 10 points.
Accordingly, the proportion of establishments having a decline fell by 12 points to 23 per cent.
On the other hand, of retail businesses surveyed, fewer had sales increases in April – 49 per cent, compared to 51 per cent in March.
Reporting increased turnover were all leather goods retailers, 68 per cent of watch/clock/jewellery retailers, 60 per cent of adult clothing retailers and 56 per cent of supermarkets.
Retailers posting a year-on-year drop in sales increased by 11 points to 38 per cent in April.
DSEC says that while 38 per cent of retail business is expected to weaken in May, 80 per cent of leather goods retailers, 33 per cent of department stores and 30 per cent of cosmetics and hygiene retailers are expecting increased turnover.
While about half of the interviewed restaurants and similar establishments expect their receipts to remain stable year-on-year in May, 30 per cent predicted a decline, a 9 per cent drop, says the DSEC. Chinese restaurants were most confident, 27 per cent anticipating higher income, followed by Japanese and Korean restaurants (19 per cent).
Retailers expecting a drop in sales outnumbered those more optimistic – 38 per cent (up five points) to 23 per cent (down two points). Most confident were leather goods retailers (80 per cent).
The DSEC survey covered 167 dining establishments, accounting for 53 per cent of the industry’s receipts, and 135 retailers, accounting for 70 per cent of the industry.
