The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover was relatively unchanged (0.0 per cent) in December 2015, following a rise of 0.4 per cent in November 2015, seasonally adjusted.
In seasonally adjusted terms there were rises in food retailing (0.8 per cent), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.1 per cent) and department stores (0.1 per cent). Household goods retailing (-1.0 per cent), other retailing (-0.9 per cent) and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.5 per cent) fell in December 2015.
The fall in household goods retailing was the largest of any industry in December. This fall follows large rises in recent months which have contributed significantly to stronger rises in total retail turnover. Despite the fall in December this industry maintains the strongest growth rate of any industry compared to this time last year, rising 6.3 per cent compared to December 2014.
In seasonally adjusted terms, there were rises in the Australian Capital Territory (2.4 per cent), Queensland (0.2 per cent), New South Wales (0.1 per cent), South Australia (0.2 per cent) and the Northern Territory (0.3 per cent). There were falls in Western Australia (-0.6 per cent), Victoria (-0.1 per cent) and Tasmania (-0.6 per cent).
The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in December 2015, following a 0.3 per cent rise in November 2015. Compared to December 2014 the trend estimate rose 4.0 per cent.
Online retail turnover contributed 3.0 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms.
In seasonally adjusted volume terms, turnover rose 0.6 per cent in the December quarter 2015, following a rise of 0.5 per cent in the September quarter 2015. The largest contributor to the rise was Household goods retailing which rose 2.5 per cent in seasonally adjusted volume terms in December quarter 2015.
