Hong Kong recorded fewer than 30,000 births between mid-2025 and mid-2026, a 15.6% decline, marking a record low. Despite a natural population decrease of 20,400, the total population rose by 0.3% to 7.51 million due to other demographic factors.
Hong Kong's sports industry and related sectors contributed HK$46 billion (1.5% of total) in value added at basic prices to the economy in 2024, amidst a record Olympic performance in Paris.
Hong Kong's finance chief, Paul Chan, announced the city will raise its 2026 full-year economic growth forecast after a 5.1% expansion in H1 2026. This is driven by strong global AI product demand and services exports, alongside a pledge to promote yuan use. Chan cautioned on geopolitical risks and US dollar interest rates.
Hong Kong's retail sales reached HK$33.8 billion in May, with a 10.6% increase for the first five months of the year compared to last year. This growth is attributed to economic expansion, rising labor earnings, and a continued increase in inbound visitors, including over 1 million mainland tourists during the Labour Day holiday.
Hong Kong's exports surged by 40.8% year-on-year in May, reaching HK$611.2 billion, marking the second consecutive month of over 40% growth. This robust expansion is primarily attributed to strong global demand for AI-related electronic products, despite a trade deficit of HK$44.2 billion.
Hong Kong's retail sales increased by 8.6% year-on-year in April, reaching HK$31.4 billion. This marks the 12th consecutive month of recovery, driven by visitor arrivals and holiday spending. Sales for the first four months of 2026 are up 11.3%.
Hong Kong's exports jumped 42.9% year-on-year in April to HK$620.9 billion, driven by strong demand for AI-related electronics, though the government warns of potential clouding from the Middle East war.
Hong Kong’s retail sales jumped by 12.8 per cent in March, bringing first-quarter growth to 9.8 per cent, driven by a spurt in sales of electric cars ahead of the withdrawal of tax breaks. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed that retail sales reached HK$33.9 billion (US$4.32 billion) in March. The March increase was largely fuelled by car sales as buyers raced to make deals before the first registration tax concessions for electric cars ended...
Hong Kong has recorded its fastest economic growth in nearly five years in the first quarter, at 5.9 per cent, driven by strong exports and private consumption despite ongoing unrest in the Middle East. The first-quarter growth exceeded the year-on-year increase of 4 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of last year, according to advance estimates released by the Census and Statistics Department on Tuesday. The 5.9 per cent rise was also the strongest since the 7.6 per cent growth seen in the...
Hong Kong's exports surged 35.8% year-on-year in March to HK$618.4 billion, the sharpest growth in over five years, driven by strong global demand for AI-related electronic products. Imports rose 41.2%, creating a trade deficit of HK$89.1 billion, while authorities warned of downside risks from Middle East geopolitical tensions.
Hong Kong's exports jumped 35.8% year-on-year in March to HK$618.4 billion, the sharpest growth since January 2021, driven by strong global demand for AI-related electronic products. Imports rose 41.2% to HK$707.5 billion, creating a trade deficit of HK$89.1 billion. Despite the positive numbers, authorities warned of headwinds from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that could disrupt global trade flows and supply chains.
Hong Kong's unemployment rate fell to 3.7% in Q1 2026, down 0.1 percentage point from the previous quarter, marking a second consecutive decline. The underemployment rate also decreased to 1.6%. The accommodation services sector recorded a notable drop in unemployment while the foundation and superstructure sector saw improvement in underemployment. Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han said the labour force and total employment decreased slightly, but sustained economic growth should underpin the labour market.
