Total retail sales value rises 5.1% on-year in September

Hits $35.8 billion on strong jewelry sales.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, however, the volume of total retail sales increased by 4.9% on-year. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in August increased by 8.1% on-year while the volume of total retail sales increased by 7.2%.

For the first nine months of 2013, total retail sales increased by 12.5% in value and 11.9% in volume over the same period a year earlier. Based on the seasonally adjusted series, however, the volume of total retail sales fell 6.5% in Q3 compared to the preceding quarter.

Analyzed by broad type of retail outlet and comparing September 2013 on-year, the volume of sales of jewelry, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts increased by 8.7%. This was followed by sales of commodities in supermarkets (+4.1% in volume); commodities in department stores (+21.5%); wearing apparel (+3.1%); medicines and cosmetics (+4.7%); other consumer goods, not elsewhere classified (+0.6%); miscellaneous consumer durable goods (+26.7%); Chinese drugs and herbs (+5.6%); and optical shops (+7.6%).

On the other hand, the volume of sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco decreased by 3.3% in September 2013. This was followed by sales of electrical goods and photographic equipment (-1.3% in volume); motor vehicles and parts (-6.1%); fuels (-2.4%); furniture and fixtures (-10.2%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-1.9%); and books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-3.1%).