The value of retail sales in Macau surged 63.5 percent in 2021, rebounding to just 4.2 percent below their pre-pandemic levels.
The total value was MOP73.96 billion ($9.2 billion), according to figures from the Census and Statistics Service.
Sales were driven by demand for communication equipment, which saw a 128.7 percent gain, closely followed by watches, clocks and jewelry, which gained 126.6 percent. The value of leather goods surged 111 percent.
For Q421, retail sales growth appears to have slowed and 58.1 percent of retailers polled said they expected a decline in the first quarter of 2022 as Covid outbreaks have affected visitation.Â
4Q21 sales were up by 1.7 percent year-on-year to MOP18.5 billion, led by supermarkets.