Sales by nursery establishments worth an estimated $870 million, Oct 1998

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MEDIA RELEASE

October 1, 1998
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
98/98
Sales by nursery establishments worth an estimated $870 million
Total sales by nursery businesses in 1996-97 was an estimated $870 million, according to the results of a survey released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The survey was conducted by the ABS with the assistance of funding from the Nursery Industry Association of Australia and the Horticultural Research and Development Corporation.

Main Findings include:
  • There were 4,728 establishments Australia wide engaged in nursery activity.
  • Total sales of plant material by nurseries engaged in retailing and wholesaling was estimated to be $540 million. Sales of garden accessories by these nurseries was estimated at $85 million.
  • The largest proportion of sales of plant material were made directly to home gardeners (33 per cent).
  • The survey showed that the nursery industry employed an estimated 30,000 people at 30 June 1997. Wages and salaries paid to employees during 1996-97 was estimated to be $400 million.
  • Current expenditure which includes the purchase of materials and other inputs was $192 million in 1996-97. Capital expenditure during 1996-97 totalled $140 million.

Businesses included in the collection were those engaged in growing or propagating plant stock, cut flowers and cultivated turf as well as those retailing or wholesaling plants, cut flowers and cultivated turf. Information was also sought from retail department and chain stores about their nursery retailing activities.