HONG KONG, March 4, 2010 (AFP) - Hong Kong said Thursday 4 March that retail sales rose for the fifth consecutive month in January as consumer sentiment picked up on the back of a recovery in the city's economy.

The value of retail sales in January was up 6.6 percent year on year at 29.3 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.76 billion US), the Census and Statistics Department said.

The rise was smaller than the double-digit growth of previous months as the Lunar New Year holiday boosted sales in January last year, the department said.

The volume of sales of motor vehicles and parts increased the most, by 56.8 percent, the data showed, followed by consumer durable goods, furniture and jewellery.

On the other hand, the volume of sales in supermarkets decreased the most, by 15.5 percent.

A government spokesman said sentiment should stay firm in the coming months as the economy strengthens and tourism becomes more robust.