The easing of Victoria's extended lockdown proved fruitful for retailers, preliminary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates.
In October, the ABS reports that Australian retail turnover rose 1.6%, led by rises in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, closely followed by rises in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, other retailing and department stores.
ABS director of quarterly economy-wide surveys Ben James said that the reopening of Victoria bolstered retail's performance.
"The reopening of retail stores in Victoria at the end of October led to a boost to all industries, with the exception of food retailing.
"Victoria rose 5.2% from September 2020 but remains 5.7% below the levels of October 2019," he said.
While Victoria led the state rises, there was also a 1.6% rise in New South Wales, following falls in August and September.
Western Australia also saw a minor monthly rise but led the rises in annual terms, 15.1% above the levels of October 2019.
Additionally, when compared to October 2019 – when the Black Summer bushfires were raging across the country – Australian retail turnover rose 7.3% and excluding Victoria, sales are 11.9% higher.
Speaking on the preliminary figures, National Retail Association deputy CEO Lindsay Carroll said that while the pandemic is still far from over, the October results give cause for optimism as retail heads into Christmas.
"Victorian retailers reopening at the end of the month has helped to provide a boost in overall turnover for the month of October.
"According to the ABS, retail sales for October are well up on the corresponding month last year but we are still operating in challenging times and there’s no room for complacency.
"The continuation of government assistance measures and Australians being unable to travel overseas does mean that consumers currently have a healthy level of discretionary spending power.
"[However,] recent events in South Australia underline how volatile the current environment is.
"We’ve just entered the Christmas trade period – the second-half of November and all of December – and a bumper festive season will mark the start of a retail recovery.
"Many businesses desperately need a Christmas sales splurge to stay afloat heading into 2021 and hopefully we see further increases in monthly turnover between now and the end of the year," she said.