E-payment transactions continue to grow, especially in F&B

The electronic payment transaction values (e-payment) for restaurants & similar establishments (F&B) and retail trade grew by 12% and 27%, respectively, month-on-month in October, according to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

This growth was driven by increased usage during the National Day holidays (Golden Week).

Still, the transaction value continued to grow year over year, with F&B accounting for the larger increase (2.4%), while retail trade edged up 0.6%.

In October 2025, the transaction value for F&B establishments totaled MOP1.16 billion. For the first 10 months of 2025 (Jan–Oct), transaction value increased 2.2% year-on-year to MOP11.26 billion.

According to DSEC analysis, all types of F&B establishments posted month-on-month growth in transaction values in October, with Western Restaurants and Chinese Restaurants recording the most significant increases at 25.3% and 20.7%, respectively.

Compared year-on-year, transaction values across various types of F&B establishments also increased, with those for Fast-food Restaurants and Western Restaurants rising 13.5% and 7.3%, respectively.

In the retail trade, the total transaction value in October was MOP4.69 billion. For the first 10 months, the transaction value reached MOP41.97 billion, representing a year-on-year decline of 5.8%.

Compared with September, major retail activities generally recorded a month-on-month increase in transaction values, with transactions for Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers rising 51.6%.

Transactions for Adults’ Clothing, Leather Goods, and Footwear Retailers grew 44%, 39.8%, and 26.2%, respectively, whereas transaction value for Supermarkets fell 6.4%.

Compared year-on-year, the transaction value for Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers increased 10.4%, while that for Department Stores declined 11.8%.

DSEC also noted that e-payments accounted for about 70%–80% of receipts for F&B establishments and retail trade. Major merchant acquirers accounted for about 95% of the total value of electronic payment transactions.