Australia Retail Sales MoMMay 2023 Data - 1982-2022 Historical - June Forecast

Retail sales in Australia were unchanged at AUD 35.3 billion in April 2023, unrevised from the flash reading and after a 0.4% rise in March. The latest result highlighted that retail turnover had plateaued over the last six months, according to Ben Dorber, ABS head of retail statistics. In April, an increase in spending on winter clothing in response to cooler and wetter weather offset less expenditure on discretionary goods in response to cost-of-living pressures and rising interest rates. Sales of other retailing were flat after falling 0.1% previously, while turnover fell for food retailing (-0.1% vs 0.9%), and in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food (-0.2% vs 1.5%). Meantime, sales grew for clothing, footwear (1.9% vs -0.7%), and department stores (1.5% vs -0.3%). There were mixed results across the states and territories with four falls and three rises, while the Northern Territory remained unchanged.

Retail sales in Australia were unchanged from the prior month at AUD 35.3 billion in April 2023, after a 0.4% rise in March, flash data showed. The latest result came following growth in the previous three months, as an increase in spending on winter clothing in response to cooler and wetter weather offset less expenditure on discretionary goods in response to cost-of-living pressures and rising interest rates. Sales of other retailing were flat after falling 0.1% previously, while turnover fell for food retailing (-0.1% vs 0.9%), and in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food (-0.2% vs 1.5%). Meantime, sales grew for clothing, footwear (1.9% vs -0.7%), and department stores (1.5% vs -0.3%). There were mixed results across the states and territories with four falls and three rises, while the Northern Territory remained unchanged.

Retail sales in Australia increased by 0.4% mom to AUD 35.30 billion in March 2023, unrevised from a flash reading and compared with a 0.2% growth in February. It was the third straight rise in retail trade, as food retailing rose for the 13th month (1.0% vs 0.3% in February). Also, sales in cafes, restaurants, & takeaway food were robust (1.5% vs 0.5%), while the other retailing was flat. In contrast, sales dropped for household goods retailing (-0.4% vs -0.1%) and clothing (-1% vs 0.6%). At the same time, sales in department stores declined after growing in the prior two months (-0.2% vs 1.0%). Retail turnover rose modestly across the states and territories, with most up below 1.0%. Queensland (1.2%) was the only state to record over 1.0% growth, rebounding from a 0.4% decline in February. On a yearly basis, retail sales added 5.4%, the least since September 2021. During Q1, retail sales fell by 0.6%, the most since Q3 of 2009, after a 0.3% drop in Q4.