Hong Kong retail recovery rolls on for third month as July sales rise 1.8%

Government spokesman says ‘local consumption sentiment should remain steady’

A recent improvement in Hong Kong’s retail sector spilled into July, with sales rising by 1.8 per cent year on year in a sign that the industry had stabilised, the government said on Monday.

According to the Census and Statistics Department, the increase marked the third month in a row of growth following 14 consecutive months of decline.

The 1.8 per cent increase in retail sales, to HK$29.7 billion, was bigger than the revised 0.7 per cent year-on-year rise in June.

A government spokesman said that “local consumption sentiment should remain steady”.