Latest data from Macau's Statistics and Census Service indicates that electronic payment transaction values in the catering and retail industries saw year-on-year increases of 3.1% and 6.3% respectively in July 2026.

The cumulative figures for the first seven months of the year show catering transaction values rose 1.9% annually, while retail saw a more substantial 14.3% year-on-year growth.

In the food and beverage sector, July transaction amounts climbed 3.1% year-on-year to reach 1.16 billion patacas. Japanese and Korean restaurants led the uptick with a 5.8% gain, followed by tea restaurants and congee-noodle shops at 4.2% higher. However, traditional Chinese restaurants and banquet halls experienced a 3.1% decline in transaction values. For the January-to-July period, the catering industry's total electronic payment turnover reached 8.08 billion patacas, representing a 1.9% increase compared to the same timeframe last year.

The retail sector posted a stronger performance, with July transaction values increasing 6.3% year-on-year to 4.26 billion patacas. Notably, cosmetics and hygiene products saw transaction volumes surge by 33.8%, while watches and jewelry recorded a 33.3% jump. On the flip side, department stores witnessed a 14.7% contraction in their electronic payment turnover during the month.

Cumulatively, the retail industry's electronic payment transactions for the first seven months of 2026 totaled 33.71 billion patacas, marking a robust 14.3% year-on-year expansion.