Close×

Lockdowns ending across the country have proven to be a boon for fashion (clothing, footwear and accessories) retailing, with the sector lifting 27.7% ($481.7 million) in October, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows. 

Consumer spending was also strong at Department stores, which rose 22.4% ($277.8 million) in the month. 

As stores reopened, shoppers across the country hit the stores to spend up big, driving overall retail turnover up 4.9% in October. 

This follows September’s 1.3% rise after falls of 1.7% in August, and 2.7% in July 2021. 

ABS director of quarterly economy wide statistics Ben James said the 4.9% increase was the strongest monthly rise since Victoria’s first lockdown bounce back in November 2020.

"Retail performance continues to be tied to state lockdowns as this month’s recovery was driven by the end of lockdowns in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. 

"With lockdown ending on October 11, New South Wales sales rose 13.3% returning to the levels seen in the months immediately prior to the Delta outbreak, while Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) remain below pre-Delta levels.

"Although sales have bounced back strongly following the end of lockdowns, it is important to note that overall retail turnover has not yet reached the level of May 2021, the month prior to the Delta outbreak," he said. 

According to the data, Victoria's retail turnover rose 3%, while the ACT's lifted 20.2% in October. 

Victoria’s rise comes from the state lockdown ending on October 22, while the ACT ended its lockdown on October 15.

Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said retailers are taking advantage of being out of lockdown ahead of Christmas. 

"There’s just 26 days to go till Christmas and retailers are in full swing, ramping up their operations for the busiest time of year on the retail calendar.

"With Victoria and NSW now out of lockdown, we’ve seen sales bounce back strongly in those states in October and it’s pleasing to also see clothing, footwear and personal accessories back recording positive year on year growth.

"The Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales are providing businesses with strong sales momentum, with $5.4 billion forecast to be spent over the four days, which is nearly a million dollars a minute.

"The event is renowned for having the biggest retail bargains pre-Christmas and it’s gaining in popularity every year.

"Black Friday originated in the United States to tie in the with Thanksgiving holiday, but it’s now become a global phenomenon with spending in Australia last year up 50% on the year before," he said. 

comments powered by Disqus