The per-capita visitor expenditure in Macao stood at 1,419 patacas (US$177.4) in the third quarter, a year-on-year rise of 5 percent, according to statistics issued on Friday.

The figures from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the per-capita spending of visitors from the Chinese mainland topped the list with 2,863 patacas (US$358).

Non-shopping per-capita spending of visitors stood almost flat compared with that of the third quarter in 2004, at 845 patacas (US$106), of which "food and beverage" and accommodation accounted for 40 percent and 35 percent, respectively, the figures showed.

Per-capita shopping spending in the quarter was 574 patacas (US$64US), a year-on-year decrease of 12 percent, according to the statistics.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2005)