Australian retail sales volumes rose 0.3% in seasonally adjusted terms for the December 2023 quarter, new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data revealed.
This follows a revised fall of 0.1% in September quarter 2023 and a fall of 1.1% in June quarter 2023.
The clothing, footwear and accessories sector was the only non-food retail industry to record a fall in retail sales volumes, down 1.6%. This was the second quarterly fall in a row; however, retail volumes were up 0.5% compared to the same time last year.
Meanwhile, household goods retailing (2.3%) recorded the largest rise, followed by other retailing (0.4%), and department stores (0.2%).
“The rise in December retail sales volumes was supported by lower price growth for retail goods,” ABS head of retail statistics Ben Dorber said.
“Consumers particularly took advantage of discounting for discretionary items like furniture and electronic goods.”
Food retailing rose 0.5%, following two straight quarterly falls. The rise in food volumes has been supported by easing food price growth (0.6%), down from 0.8% last quarter.
Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services fell 2.1%.
On a per capita basis, retail volumes (down 0.3%) fell for a sixth straight quarter. This is also down 3.5% compared to this time last year.
“Removing the effects of strong population and price growth clearly shows how consumers have responded to cost-of-living pressures,” Dorber said. “Sales volumes per person have fallen every quarter since reaching a peak in June 2022, although they remain above pre-pandemic levels.”
Retail price growth (0.1%) slowed this quarter, down from 0.6% in the September quarter, based on data from the latest Consumer Price Index. This is the smallest quarterly retail price rise since September quarter 2021.
“Compared to the same time last year, retail prices rose 2.4%, down considerably from the peak of 7.6% in December quarter 2022,” Dorber said.
Most states and territories recorded a rise in retail volumes this quarter. Victoria (down 0.5%) was the only state to record a fall, while the Australian Capital Territory remained unchanged.
Compared to the December quarter 2022, retail sales volumes were down 1%.