The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.4 per cent in August following a fall of 0.1 per cent in July 2015, seasonally adjusted.
In seasonally adjusted terms the largest contributor to the rise was food retailing (0.6 per cent). Other retailing (1.3 per cent), department stores (1.3 per cent) and household goods retailing (0.2 per cent) also rose. There were falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-1.4 per cent) and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.3 per cent).
In seasonally adjusted terms there were rises in Victoria (0.9 per cent), New South Wales (0.5 per cent), Western Australia (0.2 per cent), South Australia (0.3 per cent) and Tasmania (0.4 per cent). There were falls in Queensland (-0.2 per cent), the Northern Territory (-0.9 per cent) and the Australian Capital Territory (-0.4 per cent).
The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.2 per cent in August 2015 following a 0.3 per cent rise in July 2015. The trend estimate for August 2015 is 4.3 per cent higher compared to August 2014.
Online retail turnover contributed 3.1 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms.
