Australian retail turnover climbed 1.2 per cent in June to $37.9 billion (seasonally adjusted), driven by discounting during mid-year sales and new product launches, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It follows a 0.5 per cent rise in May after a flat April. Turnover was up about 4.9 per cent on June last year.
Non-food categories led the gains, with household goods retailing up 2.3 per cent and other retailing 1.9 per cent. Department stores rose 1.9 per cent and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing increased 1.5 per cent. Food retailing rebounded 0.9 per cent, while cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services slipped 0.4 per cent.
Robert Ewing, ABS head of business statistics, said: ‘The strong June month rise in retail turnover was driven by discounts linked to sales and new product releases.’ He added: ‘After steady growth throughout the year, mid-year sales events increased spending on discretionary items like furniture, electrical goods and clothing items.’ He said: ‘Consumers are targeting sales events with a focus on value for big ticket items like household furniture, bedding, electronic devices and TVs,’ and noted: ‘Turnover for electrical and gaming retailers was lifted further by the much-anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, which delivered record sales.’
All states and territories recorded monthly increases. New South Wales and the ACT led with 1.6 per cent rises, Victoria and Queensland each gained 1.2 per cent, South Australia rose 0.7 per cent, the Northern Territory 0.8 per cent, Tasmania 0.4 per cent and Western Australia 0.3 per cent.
Quarterly retail volumes rose 0.3 per cent in the June quarter, the fourth consecutive quarterly increase, while retail prices rose 0.6 per cent. On a per capita basis, volumes fell 0.1 per cent. Mr Ewing said: ‘The per capita fall shows that despite the rise in volumes, consumer spending remains restrained, outstripped by population growth.’
Today’s figures mark the final edition of Retail Trade, Australia, 74 years after the first survey in 1951. Australian Statistician Dr David Gruen AO said: ‘Today’s final publication comes 74 years after Sir Roland Wilson, Chief Statistician at the time, released the results of the first Retail Trade survey in 1951. Sir Roland noted that total Australian retail sales in the September quarter 1950 amounted to £383.2 million – around $20.5 billion in today’s dollars. ‘The ABS would like to thank the many businesses that have contributed over the 74 years of the Retail business Survey. ‘After today’s publication, monthly statistics on household spending will be available in the ABS’ Monthly Household Spending Indicator (MHSI), providing a more comprehensive view of consumption, across both goods and services.’
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.
