During the first seven months of the year, retail value rose 14.2 per year on year with the largest increase reported in jewellery, watches and clocks.
Retail sales increases then followed with commodities in department stores up 21.4 per cent, miscellaneous consumer durables up 17.3 per cent, optical shops at 14 per cent and Chinese drugs and herbs of 9.6 per cent increase.
After this, sales in medicine and cosmetics were up 8.2 per cent; apparel (5.5 per cent); food, alcohol and tobacco (0.3 per cent); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (0.3 per cent); fuel (0.2 per cent); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (2.7 per cent) and books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (2.3 per cent).
Declines were noted in furniture and fixtures (-11.7 per cent), electrical goods and photographic equipment (-9.3 per cent) and motor vehicles and parts (-11.3 per cent).
