Hong Kong's business remained strong in June, with retail sales provisionally estimated at 15.6 billion Hong Kong dollars, up 14.5 percent on last year.

After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the overall volume of retail sales rose 11.3 percent, according to figures released by the Hong Kong Census and statistics Department on Friday.

This is the third consecutive month retail sales saw double-digit year-on-year volume growth, reflecting a sustained revival in local consumer demand and buoyant inbound tourism.

The remarkable performance in June remained broad-based, with sales of motor vehicles, electrical goods and photographic equipment, jewelry and watches, all registering sharp growth in excess of 20 percent. Sales of commodities in supermarkets stoppedfalling.

The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in May was 16.5 billion Hong Kong dollars, up 19.5 percent in value or 15.7 percent in volume on last year.

For the first half of 2004, retail sales rose 13.4 percent in value or 11.2 percent in volume, compared to last year.

Analyzed by type of retail outlet and comparing June with a year earlier, sales of almost all major types of retail outlet rose, with sales of motor vehicles and parts increasing the most, by 44.8 percent in volume.

This was followed by jewelry, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts; electrical goods and photographic equipment; wearing apparel; miscellaneous consumer goods; commodities in department stores; commodities in supermarkets; footwear, allied products andother clothing accessories; miscellaneous consumer durable goods; furniture and fixtures; and fuels.

Sales of food, alcohol and tobacco remained virtually unchanged.

Source: Xinhua