MACAO - An official survey released on Friday showed that the total value of Macao's retail sales for the second quarter of 2011 amounted to 9.6 billion patacas ($1.2 billion), a rise of 39 percent year-on-year.

Notable increases were recorded in the retail sales of communication equipment (64 percent), cosmetics and sanitary articles (58 percent) and leather goods (55 percent), according to the results of an industry survey conducted by Macao's Statistics and Census Service.

In comparison with the revised figure for the first quarter of 2011, value of retail sales for the second quarter increased slightly by 0.1 percent, with marked increase in retail sales of automotive fuels (16 percent), goods in pharmacies (11 percent), and watches, clocks and jewelry (5 percent), the figure showed.

The survey also showed that about 42 percent of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the first quarter, and 58 percent reported that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase.

In terms of retail prices, about 66 percent of the interviewed retailers reported that the prices were stable, whereas 21 percent reported increasing prices.

Regarding the business outlook for the third quarter of 2011, about 77 percent expected sales volume to increase or remain stable compared with the second quarter, and about 94 percent expected the retail prices to remain stable or increase, according to the survey.