Hong Kong retail sales climb nearly 20% on strong tourism and property market recovery

Hong Kong's retail sales surged 19.3% in February, marking the strongest growth in two and a half years. This marks ten consecutive months of retail sales increases. The robust sales are attributed to a significant rise in tourist arrivals, with 14.31 million visitors in the first three months of 2026, a 17% year-on-year increase. Hotel occupancy rates are also high. A recovering property market is identified as a key driver of local consumption, boosting consumer confidence. New property sales in the first quarter reached a record high.