The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed new trade figures which suggest a positive switch in consumer sentiment towards fashion retail.
The latest ABS Retail Trade figures indicate a rise in Australian retail turnover of 1.3 per cent in February 2013, seasonally adjusted, following a rise of 1.2 per cent in January 2013.
Through the year, Australian retail
turnover rose 4.6 per cent in February 2013, seasonally adjusted,
compared to February 2012.
The largest contributor to the rise
in February 2013 was food retailing (1.1 per cent) followed by
household goods retailing (1.6 per cent), other retailing (1.6 per
cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.3 per cent),
department stores (1.6 per cent) and clothing, footwear and personal
accessory retailing (1.2 per cent).
Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing in particular, rose 0.8 per cent in February 2013. The seasonally adjusted estimate rose 1.2 per cent.
By industry subgroup, the trend estimate rose for Clothing retailing (0.8 per cent) and Footwear and other personal accessory retailing (0.6 per cent). The seasonally adjusted estimate rose for Clothing retailing (1.7 per cent) and Footwear and other personal accessory retailing (0.5 per cent).
While Department stores by comparison fell 0.1 per cent in February 2013, the seasonally adjusted estimate rose 1.6 per cent.
The state which was the largest contributor to the rise was New South Wales (1.4 per cent), followed by Queensland (1.9 per cent), Victoria (1.1 per cent), Western Australia (1.8 per cent) and the Australian Capital Territory (2.6 per cent).
These rises were partially offset by
falls in South Australia (-0.4 per cent), the Northern Territory
(-1.4 per cent) and Tasmania (-0.6 per cent). Over the longer term,
Queensland was the strongest contributor to growth (up 0.6 per cent
in trend terms).
The trend estimate for Australian retail
turnover rose 0.4 per cent in February 2013. This follows a 0.3 per
cent rise in January 2013. Through the year, the trend estimate rose
3.2 per cent in February 2013 compared to February 2012.