Hong Kong’s retail sales broke a 14-month losing streak in May, with preliminary data showing the value of total retail sales rose 2.4 percent year-on-year to HK$31.3 billion ($4.01 billion).

Online sales accounted for 8.3 percent of the total value, with a provisional estimate of HK$2.6 billion, up 0.3 percent on a yearly basis, according to figures that the Census and Statistics Department released on Wednesday.

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesperson said retail sales performance improved in May. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total retail sales increased by 7 percent over the preceding month.

READ MORE: HK retail sales’ value falls 7.8% in first two months of year

Looking ahead, the spokesperson noted that the retail sector continues to adapt to changing consumption patterns. The government’s proactive efforts in promoting tourism and mega events, with rising employment income and the steady growth of the Chinese mainland economy, will help boost consumer sentiment and support the consumption market.

The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in April showed a 2.3 percent year-on-year decrease. For the first five months of 2025, the provisional estimate of total retail sales value dropped 4 percent compared to 2024.

Compared with May last year, the sales value of unclassified consumer goods and medicines and cosmetics increased significantly, by 8.9 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively.

On the other hand, sales of furniture and fixtures saw the most significant decline of 12 percent, followed by fuels with a 6.9 percent drop.

READ MORE: HK retail sales dip 2.3% in April, in a sign of stabilization

In terms of total retail sales volume, after netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate for May rose 1.9 percent year-on-year. Still, the total retail sales volume for the first five months of this year dropped 5.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024.