MacroBusiness
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at 12:20 pm on July 21, 2021 | 1 comment
The ABS has released its preliminary retail sales for June, which fell 1.8% over the month to be up 2.9% year-on-year:
Decent fall in June.
The fall of 1.8% in June 2021 follows a rise of 0.4% in May 2021.
By state, Victoria (-3.5%) and New South Wales (-2.0%) led the falls, with both under stay-at-home orders for part of the month. Victoria’s fall this month is larger than the fall seen in May when the state commenced Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions.
Food retailing (1.5%) was the only industry to rise in June, with those states entering lockdown during the month driving the increase. All other industries fell, as COVID-19 restrictions curtailed foot traffic and household movements, while retailers moved back to online distribution channels.
Date Time
Final retail sales rose 0.4% in May: Australia
Australian retail turnover rose 0.4 per cent in May 2021, seasonally adjusted, according to final retail trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This updates the May preliminary result of a 0.1 per cent rise. The change follows additional time for data collection, which has improved the estimates.
By industry, clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing saw the largest difference between the preliminary (-1.5 per cent) and final release (0.0 per cent).
By state, Victoria saw a change from -1.5 per cent to -0.9 per cent. New South Wales recorded a flat result (0.0 per cent) at the time of the preliminary release, changing to a 0.5 per cent rise for this final release.
Date Time
Retail sales rose 1.1 per cent in April: Australia
Australian retail turnover rose 1.1 per cent in April 2021, seasonally adjusted, according to preliminary retail trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Turnover rose 25.1 per cent when compared to April 2020. The sharp rise in annual turnover is due to the very low levels of retail turnover recorded in April 2020. Nationwide coronavirus restrictions in April 2020 saw physical stores closed for all but essential retail, and restrictions placed on people leaving their homes.
Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys, said: “Food retailing led the rises in April, following falls in both February and March 2021. All industries except department stores rose, with similar rises for cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services, household goods retailing, and other retailing.
Date Time
Retail sales volumes fell 0.5% in March quarter 2021: Australia
Retail sales volumes fell 0.5 per cent in the March quarter 2021, seasonally adjusted, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures. This follows the 2.4 per cent rise in the December quarter 2020.
Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys, said “The quarterly volume fall was driven by households spending patterns gradually returning to those seen before COVID-19. Food retailing (-2.7 per cent) led the falls while household goods also fell (-1.6 per cent). The falls were partially offset by a rise in cafes, restaurants and takeaways (5.8 per cent), as eating out increased, while functions and events continued to return.”
Date Time
Retail sales rose 1.4 per cent in March: Australia
Australian retail turnover rose 1.4 per cent in March 2021, seasonally adjusted, according to preliminary retail trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Turnover rose 2.3 per cent when compared to March 2020.
Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys, said: “Victoria and Western Australia led the rises, after COVID-19 lockdowns impacted retail sales in February 2021.
Queensland saw a small fall, with Greater Brisbane impacted by lockdown restrictions from 29 March.”
Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (6 per cent) led the rises by industry, driven by increases in Victoria and Western Australia. Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, and department stores also saw rises led by these two states. Nationally, food retailing saw a fall of 1 per cent.