The value of total receipts for the restaurant sector was $13 billion in the first quarter, up 3.5% compared with the first quarter of 2003. Over the same period, the value of total purchases of restaurants rose 1.5% to $4.3 billion.

The the provisional figures were released today by the Census & Statistics Department. After discounting the effect of price changes, total restaurant receipts rose 4.1% in volume.

Analysed by type of restaurant, total receipts of miscellaneous eating and drinking places rose 12.3% in value or 15.5% in volume.

Total receipts of Chinese restaurants rose 5.1% in value or 6% in volume, while total receipts of fast food shops increased 5% in value or 4.3% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants fell 1% in value or 0.7% in volume.

Total receipts of bars fell 1% in value, but rose 2.7% in volume.