Retail in Asia

In Markets

Spending on food falls but mainlanders keep HK hot

Hongkongers spent less on fresh and frozen food in September as prices soared for fish, livestock and poultry. But expensive goods like electronics and jewellery were still hot items among Chinese tourists.

"Beside food, sales volumes for fruit and vegetables, books, newspapers and furniture to local residents all fell in September," said Caroline Mak Sui-king, chairwoman of the HK Retail Management Association.

Mainland Chinese tourists snapping up luxury items offset weakening local consumption, with retail sales rising 24.1 percent to HKD31.2 billion (USD4.02b) in September compared to the year-earlier period.

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(Source: scmp.com)