Australia Retail Sales MoM1982-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar

Retail sales in Australia surged 16.9 percent month-over-month in May 2020, rebounding from a 17.7 percent plunge in the previous month and beating market expectations of a 16.3 percent gain. It was the largest rise in retail trade on record, as a wide-scale easing in COVID-19 lockdowns allowed entire sectors to reopen. Sales increased for all categories: clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (129.2 percent vs -53.6 percent in April), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (30.3 percent vs -35.4 percent), food (7.2 percent vs -17.4 percent), household goods (16.6 percent vs -0.1 percent), department stores (44.4 percent vs -14.9 percent) and other retailing (9.4 percent vs -14.4 percent). Retailers reported themes of continued spend on home improvements and high demand for recreational goods.

Retail sales in Australia surged 16.3 percent month-over-month in May 2020, as a wide-scale easing in COVID-19 lockdowns allowed entire sectors to reopen, a preliminary reading showed. This is the largest seasonally adjusted rise ever published in the 38 years of the retail trade survey, following the biggest ever fall of 17.7 percent in April. There were large gains for clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, as restrictions on trade were lifted during May. There were also large rises in household goods retailing, where retailers reported increases in spending relating to homes, including furniture, home entertainment, home offices, and home improvement. Food retailing also rose as households continued to consume additional food and beverages at home. Levels in liquor retailing remain high, as restrictions on hospitality, such as bars, clubs and events, remained in place.

Retail sales in Australia tumbled 17.7 percent month-over-month in April of 2020, compared to a preliminary reading of 17.9 percent plunge and after an 8.5 percent gain in the prior month. This was the steepest decline on record in retail trade, with many retail businesses closing their physical stores due to coronavirus restrictions. Sales fell for most categories: clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-53.6 percent vs -22.6 percent in March); cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-35.4 percent vs -22.9 percent); food retailing (-17.4 percent vs 24.1 percent); department stores (-14.9 percent vs -8.9 percent); other retailing (-14.4 percent vs 16.6 percent); and household goods retailing (-0.1 percent vs 9.1 percent).

Retail sales in Australia increased by 8.5 percent month-over-month in March of 2020, compared to a preliminary reading of 8.2 percent and after an upwardly revised 0.6 percent gain in the prior month. This was the biggest monthly rise in retail trade on record, as a lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak led to panic buying of food and other essential items. Sales went up further food retailing (24.1 percent vs 1 percent in February), other retailing (16.6 percent vs 0.2 percent), and household goods retailing (9.1 percent vs 0.9 percent). Partially offsetting the increases there were declines in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-17 percent vs -6.9 percent), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-22.6 percent vs -3 percent), and department stores (-8.9 percent vs 3.8 percent).