Tag: Retail Turnover

The ABS published their Retail Trade data for August. The seasonally adjusted estimate rose 0.1% in August 2014. This follows a rise of 0.4% in July 2014 and a rise of 0.6% in June 2014. In seasonally adjusted trend terms, Australian turnover rose 4.9% in August 2014 compared with August 2013. Most analysts were expecting around 0.4%, this month, so the result is below expectations.

There are considerable state variations, with Queensland remaining the weakest, and Victoria the strongest amongst the larger states. In terms of the states and territories in August 2014, Northern Territory rose (1.7%), Victoria (0.7%),  Western Australia (0.1%), South Australia (0.0%), Tasmania (0.0%), New South Wales fell  (-0.1%), Australian Capital Territory (-0.4%) and Queensland (-0.6%); all in seasonally adjusted terms.

The industry variations were as follows. Other retailing rose (1.6%), Food retailing (0.3%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.3%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.2%), Household goods fell (-0.8%) and Department stores (-2.9%) in seasonally adjusted terms.

Many households are keeping their wallets tight shut, we think falling wages in real terms and large mortgages are partly to blame, even at current low interest rates.

The latest ABS Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.6 per cent in June 2014, seasonally adjusted, following a fall of 0.3 per cent in May 2014. Turnover rose in household good retailing (1.7 per cent), food retailing (0.5 per cent), other retailing (0.9 per cent) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.4 per cent). These rises were partially offset by falls in cafes, restaurant and takeaway food services (-0.6 per cent) and department stores (-0.5 per cent).

Seasonally adjusted turnover rose in New South Wales (0.9 per cent), Victoria (0.6 per cent), Western Australia (1.1 per cent), South Australia (0.5 per cent), Tasmania (1.3 per cent) and the Northern Territory (0.3 per cent). Queensland was relatively unchanged (0.0 per cent). There was a fall in the Australian Capital Territory (-0.5 per cent). Through the year, Australian retail turnover rose 5.5 per cent in June 2014, seasonally adjusted, compared to June 2013. The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.1 per cent in June 2014. This follows a 0.1 per cent rise in May 2014. Through the year, the trend estimate rose 5.3 per cent in June 2014 compared to June 2013. In seasonally adjusted volume terms, turnover fell 0.2 per cent in the June quarter 2014, following a rise of 1.3 per cent in the March quarter 2014.

Looking at spend per capita, we see it fell a little in June, to $2,887. Looking at the changes over time, we see the trend still dropping, so households are not yet showing strong growth in retail spend – this is because for many, the costs of housing, child care and utility bills are blotting up more of their wallet.

The latest ABS Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover fell 0.5 per cent in May 2014, seasonally adjusted, following a fall of 0.1 per cent in April 2014.

The largest contributor to the fall was clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-2.3 per cent), followed by department stores (-2.6 per cent), household goods retailing (-0.9 per cent) and other retailing (-0.4 per cent). These falls were partially offset by rises in food retailing (0.1 per cent) and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.1 per cent).

In seasonally adjusted terms the state which made the largest contribution to the fall was Victoria (-1.1 per cent), followed by New South Wales (-0.5 per cent ), Western Australia (-0.3 per cent ), Queensland (-0.1 per cent ), the Australian Capital Territory (-0.3 per cent ) and Tasmania (-0.2 per cent ). These falls were partially offset by rises in South Australia (0.2 per cent ) and the Northern Territory (0.4 per cent ).  The trend estimate for Australian turnover was relatively unchanged (0.0 per cent) in May 2014 following a rise of 0.1 per cent in April 2014.