Hong Kong restaurant receipts rose by a mere 2.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, according to data from the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), reaching HK$30.4 billion.
But the provisional estimate of the value of purchases by restaurants increased by 1.7 per cent to $9.6 billion during the same period.
And after netting out the impact of inflation, restaurant receipts actually fell 0.5 per cent year on year, according to the C&SD.
For the full year, restaurant receipts rose 6 per cent in value, provisionally estimated at $119.5 billion. After netting out the effects of inflation, they rose by 3.1 per cent in volume.
Fourth quarter and full year in detail
Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the fourth quarter of last year with the fourth quarter of 2017, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 0.8 per cent in value and 3.2 per cent in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 4.4 per cent in value and 2.2 per cent in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 4.1 per cent in value and 0.2 per cent in volume. And total receipts of bars increased by 2.5 per cent in value but decreased by 1.2 per cent in volume.
Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing last year with 2017, total receipts of Chinese restaurants increased by 4.8 per cent in value and 2.1 per cent in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 7.6 per cent in value and 5.1 per cent in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 5.1 per cent in value and 1 per cent in volume. Total receipts of bars increased by 6.9 per cent in value and 6.5 per cent in volume. And miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts increased by 10.4 per cent in value and 6.8 per cent in volume.