Core Insights - The retail sales value in Hong Kong for March 2025 is estimated at HKD 30.1 billion, a decrease of 3.5% compared to March 2024 [1] - The total retail sales value for January and February 2025 was revised down by 7.8% compared to the same period in 2024 [1] - The estimated total retail sales value for the first quarter of 2025 shows a decline of 6.5% compared to the first quarter of 2024 [1] Retail Sales Breakdown - Online sales accounted for 8.1% of the total retail sales value in March 2025, with an estimated value of HKD 2.4 billion, down 0.5% from March 2024 [1] - The revised online sales value for January and February 2025 decreased by 2.4% compared to the same period in 2024 [1] - The estimated total retail sales quantity for March 2025 fell by 4.8% year-on-year, with a decline of 9.9% for January and February combined [1] Category Analysis - The sales value for jewelry, watches, and luxury gifts decreased by 3.9%, while clothing saw a decline of 10.8% [2] - The automotive sector experienced a significant drop of 46.4%, while furniture and fixtures fell by 17.3% [2] - Conversely, sales for supermarkets increased by 5.2%, and food, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco rose by 7.8% [2] Seasonal Adjustments - The seasonally adjusted retail sales value for the first quarter of 2025 increased by 3.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, while the quantity rose by 2.2% [2] - The government spokesperson noted that the retail sales value for March 2025 showed a further month-on-month increase after seasonal adjustments, indicating a narrowing year-on-year decline [2] Future Outlook - The retail sector is expected to benefit from steady economic growth in mainland China, government initiatives to boost tourism, and rising employment income [3] - However, challenges remain due to increasing uncertainties in the global economic outlook and ongoing changes in consumer behavior [3]