Provisional statistics of restaurant receipts and purchases for the third quarter of 2018

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (November 5).

     The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the third quarter of 2018, provisionally estimated at $29.9 billion, increased by 5.6% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants increased by 4.2% to $9.6 billion. 

     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts increased by 2.7% in the third quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier. 

     Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the third quarter of 2018 with the third quarter of 2017, total receipts of Chinese restaurants increased by 4.8% in value and 2.2% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 6.1% in value and 3.5% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 4.9% in value and 0.9% in volume. Total receipts of bars increased by 10.1% in value and 9.8% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts increased by 9.8% in value and 6.1% in volume.
         
​     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts increased by 0.7% in value and 0.2% in volume in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the preceding quarter.

     Comparing the first three quarters of 2018 with the same period in 2017, total restaurant receipts increased by 7.4% in value and 4.4% in volume. 

     To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled. 

     Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector increased by 4.8%, 7.2% and 4.8% respectively in July, August and September 2018, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier. 

     After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that total restaurant receipts increased by 2.0%, 4.2% and 1.8% in volume respectively in July, August and September 2018, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier. 

Further information

     Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the second quarter of 2018 as well as the provisional figures for the third quarter of 2018. 

     Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the second quarter of 2018 and the provisional indices for the third quarter of 2018. 

     Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series. 

     The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the third quarter of 2018 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/bbs.jsp) and relevant publications of the department from December 20, 2018. 

     The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes. 

     More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp320.jsp?productCode=B1080002). 

     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7401; email: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).