Retail spending saw a 2.84 percent growth (year-on-year) in August 2016, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said the figures provide a hopeful uptick for growth as Christmas approaches.
The sector continues to experience deflationary pressure seen through aggressive competition, accounting for the low-to-negative growth in supermarket (2.71% year-on-year) and department store (-2.39% year-on-year) categories, respectively.
“With supermarkets accounting for nearly 50% of all retail sales, the soft increase in the category contributes significantly to the low overall growth of the retail sector,” Zimmerman said.
The Clothing, Footwear and Personal Accessories category blew competitors out of the water with 6.85% year-on-year growth.
Zimmerman said retailers are reporting increased sales as the season move towards summer.
Tasmania (4.26% year-on-year), South Australia (4.62% year-on-year) and ACT (6.89% year-on-year) are leading the State-based categories.
“The figures reported by the ABS also highlight a number of trends in regards to state specific retail trade and varying State economic performances,” Zimmerman said.
“What the figures show is the need for continued growth-focused and flexibility-based economic outcomes. We need a real economic, tax and jobs reform package to drive the economy and retail growth.”
YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (August 2015 – August 2016 seasonally adjusted)
Household goods retailing (1.64%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (5.92%), Food retailing (2.62%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (6.86%), Other retailing (2.12%) and Department stores (-2.39%).
New South Wales (3.31%), South Australia (4.62%), Tasmania (4.26%), Victoria (2.92%), Australian Capital Territory (6.89%), Western Australia (-0.46%), Queensland (3.00%) and Northern Territory (-0.86%).
MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (July 2016 – August 2016 seasonally adjusted)
Household goods retailing (0.2%), Other retailing (-0.6%), Food retailing (0.3%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.4%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.2%) and Department stores (3.5%).
Northern Territory (-0.5%), South Australia (0.4%), Australian Capital Territory (0.7%), Victoria (0.7%), Tasmania (-0.1%), Western Australia (-0.5%), New South Wales (0.5%) and Queensland (0.7%).