MEDIA RELEASE
6 March 2017	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	20/2017

Australian retail turnover rose 0.4 per cent in January 2017, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures.

This follows a fall of 0.1 per cent in December 2016.

In seasonally adjusted terms, there were rises in household goods retailing (1.4 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.1 per cent), food retailing (0.2 per cent), and other retailing (0.1 per cent). These rises were offset by falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.4 per cent) and department stores (-0.5 per cent).

The main contribution to the rise in household goods retailing was the Electrical and electronic goods industry subgroup, which rose 2.4 per cent in January in seasonally adjusted terms.

In seasonally adjusted terms, there were rises in Victoria (1.1 per cent), New South Wales (0.2 per cent), South Australia (0.6 per cent), Western Australia (0.3 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (1.2 per cent) and Tasmania (0.4 per cent). There was a fall in the Northern Territory (-0.8 per cent). Queensland was relatively unchanged (0.0%).

The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.2 per cent in January 2017, following a 0.3 per cent rise in December 2016. Compared to January 2016, the trend estimate rose 3.2 per cent.

Online retail turnover contributed 3.6 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms.

More detailed industry analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0).

Media note:

• For a detailed definition of each industry group and subgroup in terms of its ANZSIC 2006 classes, please refer to paragraph 6 of the Explanatory Notes.
• Estimates of online retail turnover are only available in original terms and are not available in seasonally adjusted or trend terms.
• When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
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