CONSUMPTION


RETAIL TRADE

The seasonally adjusted estimate for South Australia's retail turnover rose to $1,458.5 in March 2011. This represented an increase of 0.3% from the previous month ($1,453.6m), and 0.8% above the sales recorded in March 2010 ($1,447.5m). In contrast, national retail turnover fell to $20,457.4m in March 2011; a decrease of 0.5% over the previous month but 2.3% above the sales recorded in March 2010 ($20,001.3m). South Australia's contribution to total retail turnover in Australia remained steady at 7.1% in March 2011.

Comparing March 2011 with March 2010, the South Australian industry groups with the largest percentage increases in retail turnover (in seasonally adjusted terms) were Food retailing, up 2.7% to $598.9m and Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, up 2.6% to $148.8m.

Clothing, footwear and personal accessories and Other retailing recorded the largest industry group decreases in turnover over this period, falling by 3.6% and 1.3% respectively.

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

In trend terms, sales of new passenger vehicles in South Australia fell to 3,045 in March 2011. This represents a decrease of 1.1% from the February sales (3,079) and is 6.4% lower than sales in March 2010 (3,254). Total new vehicles sales in South Australia fell 0.8% in March 2011 to 5,251.

In Australia, new passenger vehicle sales fell 0.7% to 47,824 in March 2011 from 48,138 in February. The March 2011 estimate is 4.1% below the new passenger vehicle sales for the same time the previous year (49,886). Total new vehicle sales increased 0.2% to 85,462 in March 2011.

*DATA NOTES

Please refer to source publications for impact of floods on data and collections.