Hong Kong October retail sales rise 6.9%, visitor growth lends support

Hong Kong’s retail sales by value rose 6.9% in October compared to a year earlier, the sixth month of gains, as recovery in retail sales gathered strength and sales of most broad retail outlet types continued to grow, government data showed on Monday.

Sales increased to HK$35.2 billion ($4.52 billion). In September, retail sales rose a revised 6% year-on-year. In volume terms, October retail sales increased by 5.3% from a year earlier, compared with a 4.8% rise in September.

For the first ten months of 2025, the value of total retail sales remained at a similar level when compared with a year earlier, while volume fell 1.5%. “Looking ahead, ongoing improvement in local consumer sentiment and sustained notable growth in visitor arrivals should continue to render support to retail businesses,” a government spokesperson said.

Visitor arrivals in October surged to 4.59 million, up 12.2% from the same month a year earlier, according to Hong Kong Tourism Board data. Mainland Chinese visitors accounted for 3.45 million of these arrivals, a 10% increase year-on-year.

Sales of jewellery, watches, clocks, and valuable gifts rose 9.5% year-on-year in October after a revised 10.3% increase in September. Sales of clothing, footwear, and allied products rose 0.9%year-on-year in October following a revised 6.6% drop in September.