ARA: SME retailers need help

NATIONAL: Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has said retail trade trend estimates released earlier this week showing a turnover increase of 0.3 percent for August, highlight the need for increased government focus on economics to continue the upward trend. ARA executive director Richard Evans the increase was notice for the Federal Government "to hold a steady hand to the wheel" and provide confidence to the community.

"The August retail trade trends are only a glimmer of light for retailers who have been suffering for most of the year after ten years of economic sunshine came to an end. But the damage caused by decreases in retail sales and turnover will require positive narrative from Canberra and a government focus on economic conditions," he said.

"It's positive that the largest increases in the trend were for the industries which have been suffering the most (clothing and soft good retailing, food retailing and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services all +0.5%), but retailers are still concerned about the economic climate.

Recently released figures in the September ARA Australian Retailers Index revealed that retail SMEs - many of which are in the fashion sector - were more worried than any other sector, with confidence falling 34 percentage points compared to the same time last year.

"The narrative of government needs to change and leave behind the politicisation of the serious issues confronting us. Ideology and populist politics need to be placed on the back burner while we wade through the economic destruction of retailers over the past six months," Evans said