Retail relief

Australian retail sales lifted 5.8 per cent in July 2014, seasonally adjusted, compared with July 2013.

This is according to the latest retail figures from The Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The increase follows year on year growth of 5.5 per cent in June.

Total retail spending was $23.311 billion in July, up from $23.217 billion in June.

Month on month growth also rose by 0.4 per cent over June.

The highest increase in growth was seen in department stores at 1.9 per cent.

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing also grew 0.1 per cent.

Australian Retailers Association executive Russell Zimmerman said a change in weather and EOFY sales helped push a slight upswing in sales over July.
 
“Winter had well and truly arrived in July and it’s no surprise department stores experienced an increase in sales, with many consumers heading to their local department store to stock up on much-needed items to get through the cooler months."

NSW led the charge in turnover growth, recording a rise of 0.7 per cent in retail sales.

This was followed by Victoria, 0.6 per cent; South Australia, 0.4 per cent, Queensland, 0.1 per cent.

The Northern Territory reported a 2.3 per cent drop in sales, while sales also fell in Tasmania, 0.4 per cent; and Western Australia, 0.1 per cent.