The latest Australian Bureau Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.2% in August 2012, seasonally adjusted, following a fall of 0.8% in July 2012.

 

The largest contributor to the rise was department stores (6.9%), followed by food retailing (0.4%) and other retailing (0.4%). These rises were partially offset by falls in household goods retailing (-1.5%), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.9%) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.7%).

The large rise in department stores follows a larger fall in July. However, department stores remains the weakest performing industry over the longer term (down 0.4% in trend terms). The strongest performing industry over the longer term was cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (up 0.5% in trend terms). 

The largest contributor to the rise was Western Australia (1.4%) followed by Queensland (0.2%), New South Wales (0.1%), the Australian Capital Territory (1.2%) and South Australia (0.2%). Falls were recorded in Victoria (-0.1%), Tasmania (-0.7%) and the Northern Territory (-0.1%) in August 2012. Over the longer term, Western Australia remains the strongest performing state (up 0.5% in trend terms) along with the ACT (also up 0.5% in trend terms). 


The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.2% in August 2012. This follows a rise of 0.3% in July 2012 and a rise of 0.3% in June 2012.

 

More detailed industry analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0).