Retailers optimistic about Q4

2014/11/25

From:Macau Business Daily

Macau retailers are optimistic about Q4. Some 27 percent are even anticipating increased sales compared to Q3. Quite a contrast. Retail sales in Q3 dropped 3 percent. But optimism has returned.

Retailers are optimistic about sales for the fourth quarter of 2014, with 27 percent expecting sales volume to increase from the third quarter. Just over half of retailers, some 54 percent of the total, expect prices to remain the same, while 19 percent expect sales volume to decline, according to the lastest data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
This is in striking contrast to their opinions for the third quarter, where 48 percent said they had noticed a decrease in sales volume.
Concurrently, about 66 percent predict stable retail prices, 26 percent expect an increase, while 8 percent predict a decrease.
In respect of the other comments of the retailers, about 52 percent stated that sales volume in the third quarter of 2014 had increased or held stable over the previous quarter, down 1 percentage point compared to the corresponding figure in the second quarter of 2014, while 48 percent reported a decrease in sales volume. In terms of retail price, about 63 percent reported stable prices, 18 percent stated an increase and 19 percent a decrease.
Moreover, about 71percent of retailers said that the stock level remained stable compared to the third quarter of 2013, while 18% indicated that stock levels had decreased.
DSEC’s data also shows that the value of retail sales for the third quarter decreased 1 percent year-on-year.
Retail sales of watches, clocks and jewellery totalled MOP4.11 billion in the third quarter, which topped the list and accounted for 26 percent of the total. It was followed by retail sales of goods in department stores, which accounted for 17 percent, and leather goods that accounted for 9 percent.
A marked decrease, however, can be observed in the sales of these sectors: watches, clocks and jewellery, which registered around MOP4 billion in sales, dropped 15 percent compared to the same period last year, while leather goods dropped 12 percent.
There is some good news for the sales of Chinese food products for the third quarter, which rocketed 45 percent. Other sectors seeing a significant increase include footwear at 39 percent increase and household appliances at 28 percent.

Copyright@Macau Business Daily