Hong Kong's retail sales up 1.9 pct in February

HONG KONG, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The value of Hong Kong's total retail sales increased 1.9 percent year on year in February, buoyed by consumer spending during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, provisional data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government showed on Wednesday.

Retail sales value is estimated at 33.8 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 4.3 billion U.S. dollars) in February, according to the Census and Statistics Department of the HKSAR government.

Total retail sales value in the first two months of this year is estimated to climb 1.4 percent over a year earlier, the data showed.

In breakdown, the combined sales value of jewelry, watches and clocks, as well as valuable gifts increased by 8.8 percent, while that of books, newspapers, stationery and gifts jumped 20.1 percent in the first two months. Apparel sales rose 7.8 percent year on year.

A spokesman for the HKSAR government said that more upcoming mega events, rising household income as well as the government's efforts to boost consumption sentiment will provide support for the retail sector in the future.