每日英語跟讀 Ep.K625: Retail and Food & Beverage Sales Show Growth, While Wholesale Sector Struggles

According to a recent report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the domestic retail, and food and beverage sectors experienced significant growth in sales last month. Retail sales reached NT$371.9 billion (US$11.86 billion), marking a 13.9 percent year-on-year increase, while food and beverage sales surged to NT$83.4 billion, showing an impressive 34.7 percent rise compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the wholesale sector faced challenges, experiencing an eighth consecutive month of decline due to weak demand and inventory adjustments.

根據經濟部最近的報告，國內零售和餐飲業上個月銷售額顯著增長。零售銷售額達到3719億新台幣（約118.6億美元），較去年同期增長13.9％，而餐飲業銷售額激增至834億新台幣，較去年同期增長34.7％。然而，批發業面臨挑戰，連續第八個月出現銷售下滑，原因是需求疲弱和庫存調整。

The growth in retail sales last month was primarily driven by department stores, which reported a remarkable 30.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, sales of automobiles, motorbikes, and related components soared by 45 percent, while clothing and accessories sales rose by 22.2 percent. However, sales of information and communications technology products, home appliances, and household equipment experienced a decline of 5.5 percent annually. Supermarkets and hypermarkets also faced a dip in sales, with a respective decrease of 5 percent and 7.2 percent.

上個月的零售業銷售額增長主要得益於百貨公司，銷售額較去年同期大增30.4％。此外，汽車、摩托車及相關零組件的銷售飆升了45％，而服飾和飾品銷售增長了22.2％。然而，資訊及通訊科技產品、家電和家用設備的銷售較去年同期下降5.5％。超市和量販店的銷售額也分別下降了5％和7.2％。

The food and beverage sector's growth was attributed to catering service providers, which reported an impressive 71.8 percent rise in sales year-on-year. This increase was boosted by airlines adding more passenger flights, leading to higher demand for in-flight meals. Restaurant sales also surged by 36.1 percent, supported by the holiday effect of the Dragon Boat Festival and teacher appreciation banquets during the graduation season. Additionally, beverage sales increased by 16 percent, driven by higher demand for cold drinks amidst hot weather.

餐飲業的增長歸因於餐飲服務供應商，銷售額較去年同期驚人的增長了71.8％。此增長得益於航空公司增加了客運航班，推動了機上餐飲的需求。餐廳銷售額也較去年同期增長了36.1％，受到端午節和畢業季謝師宴對餐飲需求的提振。此外，飲料銷售額因炎熱天氣下對冷飲的需求增加而增長了16％。

In the second quarter of the year, retail sales continued to perform well, rising by 12.7 percent year-on-year, reaching NT$1.12 trillion. The first six months of the year witnessed a record high in retail sales, totaling NT$2.23 trillion, showing a 9 percent growth. The food and beverage sector also experienced remarkable growth, with sales in the second quarter rising by 36.9 percent to NT$248.6 billion and sales in the first six months reaching a record high of NT$503.8 billion, a growth of 26.3 percent. However, the wholesale sector faced ongoing challenges, reporting an 11.4 percent decline in sales last month, amounting to NT$965.5 billion. The second quarter saw a 13.1 percent drop in wholesale sales, totaling NT$2.82 trillion, and sales for the first six months declined by 12.3 percent, amounting to NT$5.61 trillion.

在今年第二季度，零售業銷售持續表現強勁，較去年同期增長12.7％，達到1.12兆新台幣。上半年的零售銷售額創下新高，總計達2.23兆新台幣，增長了9％。餐飲業也取得了顯著增長，第二季度銷售額較去年同期增長36.9％，達到2486億新台幣，上半年銷售額則達到5038億新台幣，較去年同期增長26.3％。然而，批發業面臨持續的挑戰，上個月銷售額下降了11.4％，達到9655億新台幣。第二季度批發銷售額總計2.82兆新台幣，較去年同期下降13.1％，上半年銷售額下降了12.3％，達到5.61兆新台幣。

The Ministry of Economic Affairs predicts that this month's retail and food and beverage sales will continue to rise as more people are willing to spend during the summer vacation. Additionally, auto dealers are planning larger promotional campaigns ahead of Ghost Month, the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which is generally considered an inauspicious time to purchase new vehicles. However, the wholesale sector is expected to face further challenges, as the global economy's growth momentum remains sluggish and end-market demand continues to be weak.

經濟部預測，本月零售和餐飲業的銷售將繼續增長，因為更多人在暑假期間願意消費。此外，汽車經銷商計劃在鬼月前進行更大規模的促銷活動，而鬼月是農曆七月，通常被認為不吉利的購車時期。然而，預計批發業將面臨進一步的挑戰，因為全球經濟增長動力仍然遲緩，終端市場需求持續疲弱。

Reference article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2023/07/25/2003803685