Hong Kong’s October retail sales fell 2.9% from a year earlier, reflecting a change in consumption patterns, government data showed on Friday.

Sales fell to HK$32.9 billion ($4.23 billion) in an eighth consecutive month of decline after a 6.9% slump in September and 10.0% decline in August.

“The Mainland’s (China’s) recent introduction of various measures to boost the economy would help support consumption sentiment and economic activities in Hong Kong,” a government spokesperson said, adding that the change in consumption patterns would pose a constraint.

China’s measures, including resumption of a multiple-entry visitors’ scheme for Shenzhen residents to Hong Kong, would support spending, the government said.

In volume terms, October retail sales fell 4.9% from a year earlier compared with an 8.7% fall in September.

For the first 10 months of 2024, total retail sales value decreased 7.1% compared to the same period in 2023, while the volume of total retail sales fell 8.8%, according to provisional estimates.

China has eased visa restrictions for Shenzhen residents visiting Hong Kong effective December 1 and Zhuhai residents visiting Macau effective January 1.

October visitor arrivals stood at 4.09 million, up 18.3% from the same month a year ago, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed. That compared to 3.06 million in September, 4.45 million in August and 3.92 million in July.

The number of mainland Chinese visitors stood at 3.14 million in October, up 16.2% from a year ago. That compared to 2.29 million in September, 3.66 million in August, and 3.14 million in July.

Sales of jewellery, watches, clocks and valuable gifts fell 11.1% in October year-on-year after a 17.9% decline in September.

Sales of clothing, footwear and allied products dropped 9.4% in October after a 7.9% decline in September.