NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE	Release Date
April 2011	28 April 2011
May 2011	31 May 2011
June 2011	28 June 2011

WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH

This month's SA Stats presents two articles, Patterns in South Australian Retail Turnover and Emotional Well-being in South Australia.

The first article presents an overview of South Australian retail turnover using data from Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0). The article presents a summary of recent trends in retail turnover in South Australia with special reference to time-series analysis and the difference between the original, seasonally adjusted and trend estimates. Unless otherwise stated, the Retail Sector in this article is defined by Division G of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (cat. no. 1292.0). The main findings of the article include:

• The trend of retail spending in South Australia has declined since May 2010.
• The trend estimate of monthly retail turnover for South Australia decreased by 0.2% in January 2011, while the national estimate was flat.
• In original data series terms, there is a clear seasonal variation in South Australian retail turnover.

The second article focuses on the emotional aspects of well-being for South Australians, as measured in the ABS system of social statistics. It explores three indicators as a proxy measure of well-being: levels of psychological distress; mental illness; and personal stressors. The article shows:

• One in eight South Australians (and Australians) reported having a high or very high degree of psychological distress in 2007-08.
• Nearly six out of ten South Australians were adversely impacted by at least one potentially stressful situation or event over 2005-06.
• In the decade to 2009, there has been consistently higher per capita spending (rate per total population) on mental-health related medications in South Australia - under the Pharmaceutical and Repatriation Benefits Schemes - than in any other jurisdiction or nationally.

Explanatory Notes are not included in SA Stats in the form found in other ABS publications. Readers are directed to the Explanatory Notes contained in related ABS publications referenced in the feature articles.

Topics which have been updated with new data in this month's issue of SA Stats include: Construction; Consumption; Housing Finance; Incomes; International Merchandise Trade; Investment; Labour Force; Price Indexes; State Accounts; and Water.


NOTE: CHANGE TO ABS PRODUCT

The final release of the current SA Stats product will be 28 June, 2011. Currently the ABS is developing a new national output - State and Territory Statistical Indicators (cat. no. 1367.0), anticipated release in July 2011. This product will provide an overview of the population, economy and environment for each of the Australian states and territories.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Loucas Harous on Adelaide (08) 8237 7585, or email sa.statistics@abs.gov.au.