Visitor growth fuels 19 per cent rebound in Hong Kong retail sales

Shoppers walk past luxury stores at Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong, China February 15, 2023. REUTERS/Lam Yik — Shoppers stroll past stores in Tsim Sha Tsui. (Source: Reuters)

By Reuters April 1, 2026

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Hong Kong’s retail sales by value jumped 19.3 per cent in February from a year earlier, marking the 10th month of gains.

Sales at most broad types of retail outlets grew, government data showed, and the monthly increase was the largest since June 2023, when retail sales jumped 19.5 per cent. January Hong Kong retail sales rose by 5.5 per cent year-on-year. December retail sales rose by 6.6 per cent.

“Looking ahead, the resilient growth momentum in the local economy and the vibrant increase in inbound visitors are expected to support retail businesses,” a government spokesperson said.

Sales of jewellery, watches, clocks and valuable gifts rose 24.2 per cent in February after a rise of 31.1 per cent in January.

Sales of clothing, footwear and allied products rose 14.1 per cent in February following a 0.2 per cent rise in January.

In volume terms, February retail sales surged 17.5 per cent from a year earlier, compared with a revised 3.5 per cent rise in January, marking the largest percentage gain since March 2023, which saw a 39.3 per cent increase.

Visitor arrivals in February increased to 5.14 million, up 40.2 per cent on the same month last year, according to data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The number of Mainland Chinese visitors jumped 53.4 per cent to 4.25 million.