Business turnover across rose 0.5 per cent in trend terms in March 2025 compared to the prior month.
This is according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which show that the local retail trade market had softer growth, up just 0.2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms and 0.6 per cent in trend terms.
Total business turnover lifted 0.4 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms.
“We have seen a continued rise in monthly business turnover since September 2024,” ABS head of business statistics Robert Ewing said.
Among the retail subdivisions, food retailing saw the strongest growth, with other store-based retailing – excluding motor vehicles and parts, but including fashion among other retail categories – remained unchanged.
Ewing said eight of the 13 industry aggregate rose in month-on-month terms.
“The wholesale trade industry led the growth, up 2.2 per cent,” he said. “Driving this rise were basic material wholesaling, which rebounded following a dip in exports in February, and motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts wholesaling.”
Rises in these industries were partially offset by falls in five of the 13 industries.
“The largest drops were in electricity, gas, water and waste services, down 4.1 per cent, and transport, postal and warehousing, down 3.9 per cent. Both of these industries were impacted by adverse weather conditions across Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.”
Compared to March 2024, turnover was higher for 11 of the 13 industries included in the indicator.
The industries that saw the strongest annual rises were manufacturing (up 11.9 per cent), and information media and telecommunications (up 9.7 per cent).
The industries with annual falls were mining (down 5.9 per cent), and arts and recreation services (down 1.4 per cent).
Retail trade lifted 2.7 per cent, with wholesale trade up 5.9 per cent.