Macau's retail sales rose by 29.3 percent year on year to 24.0 billion patacas in the first quarter of this year, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) has announced.
A statement released by the bureau yesterday said that the increase was "driven by the relaxation of border control measures."
Sales of Chinese food products leaped by 230.4 percent, but sales of communication equipment fell by 30.2 percent year on year.
Quarter on quarter, retail sales grew by 62.3 percent.
Shopping has grown into one of the main attractions of Macau's tourism industry. Macau is a free port and does not levy value added tax.
Macau casinos' gross gaming revenue (GGR) increased by 94.9 percent year on year to 34.6 billion patacas in the first quarter of this year, according to data released by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.
