MACAO - Results of an official survey released on Friday showed that the total value of Macao's retail sales for the second quarter of 2010 amounted to 6.84 billion patacas ($855 million), increasing by 32 percent year-on-year.
Notable increases were recorded in the retail sales of Watches, clocks and jewelry (24 percent), Goods in department stores (14 percent) and Adults' clothing (9 percent), according to the results of an industry survey conducted by Macao's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
In comparison with the revised figure for the first quarter, value of retail sales for the second quarter dropped by one percent, with marked decrease in retail sales of Communication equipment (-17 percent) and Cosmetics and sanitary articles (-10 percent), the figure showed.
In the first half year of 2010, total value of retail sales reached 13.77 billion patacas, up significantly by 35 percent year-on-year.
Meanwhile, the survey also showed that about 59 percent of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the first quarter, and 41 percent reported that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase.
In terms of retail prices, about 70 percent of the interviewed retailers reported that the prices were stable, whereas 18 percent reported decreasing prices.
Regarding the business outlook for the third quarter of 2010, about 74 percent expected sales volume to increase or remain stable compared with the second quarter, and about 84 percent expected the retail prices to remain stable or increase, according to the survey.