Apparel sales across Stockland’s Town Centres have remained relatively flat, with comparable sales up just 0.2 per cent in the first half of FY26 compared to the same time last year.
This is according to Stockland Group’s first-half trading update released today.
The 0.2 per cent lift to December 31 is slightly down from a 0.3 per cent comparable sales lift reported in the first quarter of FY26.
Meanwhile, moving annual total (MAT) sales across fashion to December 31, 2025, are up 0.7 per cent, hitting $386 million.
MAT sales in apparel to September 30 last year were $383 million, up 0.9 per cent on the prior period.
MAT sales in apparel to December 31 dragged on a total comparable MAT growth of 3.6 per cent, driven up by booms in food catering and food retail, both up 6.4 per cent and 8.4 per cent respectively.
Stockland Group noted the total comp MAT growth is adjusted for a 53-week prior period of sales for major tenants, with specialties, mini majors and majors each contributing to the growth.
“Comparable specialty MAT sales were up 3.5 per cent on the back of an improved tenancy remix that attracted strong brands as well as stronger market conditions,” the group noted in its interim financial report. “The portfolio continues to benefit from its more than 70 per cent weighting to essentials-based categories, while sales for discretionary categories, such as leisure, homewares and Jewellery have continued to show improvement.”
The other category appearing to struggle with MAT sales growth is homewares, with comparable MAT growth for the period to December 31 up just 0.2 per cent.
However, first-half MAT growth for FY26 in homewares was up 1.3 per cent.
Across the retail store categories for first-half comparable sales, specialty store sales growth grew strongest, by 4 per cent. The specialties category will include a large portion of fashion brands. This is followed by mini-majors (think JB Hi Fi, Rebel, etc), with first-half sales up 3.4 per cent.
Both discount department stores (Kmart, Big W) and standard department stores (Myer, David Jones) combined saw first half sales grow 2.8 per cent, with supermarkets growing by 2.7 per cent.
Supermarkets contribute the largest to total MAT growth, hitting $1.68 billion to December 31. This is followed by specialties ($1.56 billion), mini-majors ($728 million) and DDS/DS ($612 million).