The value of total retail sales rose 6.1% in August over a year earlier to $16.5 billion. After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the volume of total retail sales grew 5.3%, the Census & Statistics Department says.

Analysed by type of retail outlet, the volume of sales of electrical goods and photographic equipment grew most, by 14.4%.

This was followed by sales of miscellaneous consumer goods (+8.2%); commodities in department stores (+7.0%); wearing apparel (+6.3%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+5.2%); miscellaneous consumer durable goods (+5.2%); commodities in supermarkets (+3.7%); food, alcohol and tobacco (+2.9%); and furniture and fixtures (+1.4%).

But the volume of sales of fuels fell 2.3%, while sales of motor vehicles and parts and of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts fell 1.7% and 1.6% in volume.

The department said the overall volume of retail sales sustained solid growth in August indicating that consumer demand continued to hold up well amidst the full-fledged economic recovery.

Looking ahead in the coming few months, a number of positive factors will continue to render support to retail business, it said. These include the improving labour market conditions particularly the rise back in labour income, vibrant inbound tourism, as well as the generally upbeat market sentiment. But there could be some negative impact on consumer demand because of successive interest rate increases, it added.