Trend Retail Sales Moderate In September

The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.2 per cent in September 2016 following a 0.3 per cent rise in August 2016. Compared to September 2015 the trend estimate rose 2.8 per cent, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures.

In trend terms,  there were rises in household goods retailing (0.2 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.9 per cent), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.2 per cent) and food retailing (0.2 per cent). Department stores fell (-0.3 per cent). Other retailing was static (-0.0 per cent) in September 2016.

retail-sep16In trend terms, there were rises in Queensland (0.6 per cent), Australian Capital Territory (0.4 per cent), South Australia (0.3 per cent), New South Wales (0.2 per cent), Victoria (0.2 per cent) and Tasmania (0.1 per cent). Western Australia fell (0.1 per cent) and the Northern Territory fell (0.1 per cent).

retail-sep16-statesOnline retail turnover contributed 3.5 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms.

In seasonally adjusted volume terms, turnover fell 0.1 per cent in the September quarter 2016, following a rise of 0.3 per cent in the June quarter 2016. The main contributors to this fall were food retailing (-0.7 per cent) and department stores (-3.6 per cent).

Author: Martin North

Martin North is the Principal of Digital Finance Analytics

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