The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.4 per cent in September 2015 following a rise of 0.4 per cent in August 2015, seasonally adjusted. Is momentum slowing?
The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in September 2015 following a 0.3 per cent rise in August 2015. Compared to September 2014 the trend estimate rose 3.7 per cent.
In seasonally adjusted terms there were rises in household goods retailing (1.0 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.9 per cent), food retailing (0.3 per cent), other retailing (0.4 per cent) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.2 per cent). Department stores fell 2.0 per cent.
In seasonally adjusted terms there were rises in Victoria (0.8 per cent), New South Wales (0.3 per cent), Western Australia (0.5 per cent), South Australia (0.3 per cent), Tasmania (0.8 per cent) and the Northern Territory (1.0 per cent). There were falls in Queensland (-0.3 per cent) and the Australian Capital Territory (-0.1 per cent).
Online retail turnover contributed 3.3 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms.
In seasonally adjusted volume terms, turnover rose 0.6 per cent in the September quarter 2015, following a rise of 0.7 per cent in the June quarter 2015.
