Hong Kong’s watch and jewellery sector continued its steady rebound in October, supported by improving domestic sentiment and a strong revival in tourism. Newly released data from the Census and Statistics Department showed that revenue in the jewellery, watches, clocks and valuable gifts category rose 9.5% year-on-year to HKD 4.94 billion (USD 634 million). Although the department does not publish category-wise detail, the headline figures indicate that momentum in the sector has remained firm through the autumn months.

This growth builds on a 9.1% rise in September and a sharp 17.5% surge in August, when the city experienced its seasonal peak in tourist arrivals. However, the stronger performance in recent months has only partly offset the weakness seen earlier in 2024. As a result, cumulative sales for January to October edged up just 0.3%, underscoring the slow recovery trajectory in the first half of the year.

Across all retail categories, Hong Kong recorded a 6.9% increase in sales during October, with electrical goods and consumer durables registering the most significant jump at 24.6%. According to a government spokesperson, the broader retail sector has gained further strength, buoyed by consistent improvements in consumer confidence and robust growth in visitor numbers. These trends, he noted, are expected to continue supporting retail businesses in the months ahead.