(IDEX Online) - Sales of jewelry, watches, clocks and other valuable gifts in Hong Kong increased by 3.3% on the year in October to HKD 6.868 billion ($878 million), reported the Census and Statistics Department.
The rise was higher than that recorded in September when Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong and the increase in jewelry sales was 2.2%.
For the first 10 months of this year, the sales category soared 18.2% to HKD 71.184 billion ($9.10 billion).
Overall retail sales in Hong Kong rose by 6% on the year in October to HKD 39.745 billion ($5.08 billion). For the January-October period, there was an increase of 10.6% to HKD 401.0 billion ($51.3 billion).
Growth in retail sales in October was higher than in September due to an increase in visitor arrivals and continued income growth, according to a government spokesman.