In the first quarter of 2009, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined by 7.8% in real terms from a year earlier, compared with the 2.6% decrease in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

-2.6%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

1st Qtr 2009

-7.8%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Private consumption expenditure (PCE) contracted by 5.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2009 from a year earlier, following the 4.1% decline in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

-4.1%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

1st Qtr 2009

-5.5%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Gross domestic fixed capital formation (GDFCF) decreased by 12.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2009, moderating from the 17.8% decline in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

-17.8%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

1st Qtr 2009

-12.6%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

In April 2009, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 15.5% over April 2008, while that of domestic exports dropped sharply, by 37.2%. Taken together, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 16.1%. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Mar 2009

-20.1%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Apr 2009

-16.1%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

In April 2009, the volume of Hong Kong's domestic exports of goods dropped sharply, by 37.2% over April 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Mar 2009

-39.8%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Apr 2009

-37.2%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

In April 2009, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods decreased by 15.5% over April 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Mar 2009

-19.5%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Apr 2009

-15.5%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

In April 2009, the volume of Hong Kong's imports of goods decreased by 15.2% over April 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Mar 2009

-21.4%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Apr 2009

-15.2%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Exports of services decreased by 8.2% in real terms in the first quarter of 2009 from a year earlier, as compared to the 0.4% marginal increase in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

+0.4%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

1st Qtr 2009

-8.2%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Imports of services dropped by 10.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2009. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

-3.4%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

1st Qtr 2009

-10.9%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

After netting out the effect of price changes, Hong Kong's GNP decreased by 9.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2009 over a year earlier, compared with an increase of 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

+0.7%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

1st Qtr 2009

-9.6%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Hong Kong recorded a surplus amounting to $68.9 billion in its BoP account (at 18.1% of GDP) in the first quarter of 2009, as compared with a surplus of $147.3 billion (at 33.8% of GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

+147.3

(HK$ billion)

1st Qtr 2009

+68.9

(HK$ billion)

According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices remained unchanged in May 2009 compared with the same month a year earlier. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from March to May 2009 was virtually nil. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Apr 2009

+0.6%

year-on-year
% change

May 2009

0.0%

year-on-year
% change

The implicit price deflator of GDP, as a broad measure of overall inflation in the economy, recorded a year-on-year increase of 0.5% in the first quarter of 2009, as against the 0.2% decline in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

-0.2%

year-on-year
% change

1st Qtr 2009

+0.5%

year-on-year
% change

After netting out the effect of price changes, the volume of total retail sales decreased by 6.4% (provisional) in May 2009 when compared with a year earlier. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Apr 2009

-5.4%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

May 2009

-6.4%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms
(provisional)

After discounting the effect of price changes, total restaurant receipts dropped by 1.9% in volume in the first quarter of 2009 as compared to a year earlier. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

4th Qtr 2008

+2.4%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

1st Qtr 2009

-1.9%

year-on-year
% change
in real terms

Total labour force increased by around 15 700, from 3 699 000 in February - April 2009 to an all-time high of 3 714 700 (provisional figure) in March - May 2009. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Feb - Apr
2009

3 699.0

('000)

Mar - May
2009

3 714.7

('000)
(provisional figure)

Total employment increased by around 12 800, from 3 502 100 in February - April 2009 to 3 514 900 (provisional figure) in March - May 2009. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Feb - Apr
2009

3 502.1

('000)

Mar - May
2009

3 514.9

('000)
(provisional figure)

The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) increased by around 2 800, from 196 900 in February - April 2009 to 199 700 (provisional figure) in March - May 2009. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Feb - Apr
2009

196.9

('000)

Mar - May
2009

199.7

('000)
(provisional figure)

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 5.3% (provisional figure) in March - May 2009, same as that in February - April 2009. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Feb - Apr
2009

5.3%

Mar - May
2009

5.3%

(provisional figure)

The underemployment rate increased from 2.2% in February - April 2009 to 2.3% (provisional figure) in March - May 2009. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Feb - Apr
2009

2.2%

Mar - May
2009

2.3%

(provisional figure)

The average wage rate for all the major sectors surveyed, as measured by the wage index, decrease by 0.9% in nominal terms in March 2009 over a year earlier. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Dec 2008

+0.9%

year-on-year
% change
in nominal terms

Mar 2009

-0.9%

year-on-year
% change
in nominal terms

The Hong Kong population was 7 008 900 (provisional) at end-2008, representing an increase of 56 100 (provisional) or 0.8% (provisional) over end-2007. (Full press release)

Detailed statistics
Concepts and Methods

Mid - 2008

6 977.7

('000)

End - 2008

7 008.9

('000)
(provisional)