Australian retail turnover rose 0.4 per cent in May 2018, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures.
This follows a 0.5 per cent rise in April 2018.
“Department stores (3.9 per cent) led the rises,” said Ben James, director of quarterly economy wide surveys. “There was also a strong result in clothing, footwear and personal accessories, which rose 2.2 per cent. Both industries were able to rebound after unusually warm weather impacted April sales.”
There were also rises in food (0.3 per cent) and household goods (0.1 per cent). Cafes, restaurants and takeaways led the falls (-1.0 per cent), whilst other retailing also fell (-0.1 per cent).
In seasonally adjusted terms, there were rises in New South Wales (0.5 per cent), Queensland (0.4 per cent), South Australia (1.1 per cent), Victoria (0.2 per cent), Tasmania (1.5 per cent), and the Northern Territory (0.4 per cent). Western Australia, on the other hand fell (-0.5 per cent) in seasonally adjusted terms, whilst the Australian Capital Territory (0.0 per cent) was relatively unchanged.
The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in May 2018 following a rise (0.3 per cent) in April 2018. Compared to May 2017, the trend estimate rose 2.8 per cent.
Online retail turnover contributed 5.6 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms in May 2018, a rise from 5.4 per cent in April 2018. In May 2017 online retail turnover contributed 3.9 per cent to total retail.
More detailed industry analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0).
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