CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT


Retail trade

New motor vehicle sales

Private new capital expenditure



RETAIL TRADE

The February 2010 trend estimate for Queensland's retail turnover was $4,084 million, an decrease of less than 0.1% from January 2010. Food retailing accounted for the greatest proportion of retail turnover in February 2010, at 41%, followed by Household goods retailing, at 18%. Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services accounted for 12% of total retail turnover.

Further information about this topic can be accessed at Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0) or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released monthly.


NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

Following the Federal Government Budget in May 2009, the eligibility period for the Small Business and General Business Tax Break was extended to December 2009. The rebate level was also increased for small businesses, allowing eligible businesses to claim an increased tax deduction on the purchase of new motor vehicles.

The trend series attempts to measure the underlying behaviour in new motor vehicle sales. In the short term, this measurement may be significantly affected by unusual influences in the original and seasonally adjusted data, like those observed in May and June 2009. If the trend estimates in the publication were to be calculated without fully accounting for this irregular event, they would be likely to provide a misleading view of the underlying trend in new motor vehicle sales activity.

The new motor vehicle sales trend series has therefore been suspended from May 2009. The trend series will be reintroduced when more certainty emerges in the underlying behaviour of new car sales.

In seasonally adjusted terms, 9,346 new passenger vehicles and 17,675 new vehicles in total were sold in Queensland in February 2010. Corresponding sales for Australia were 48,762 and 86,636. When comparing February 2010 with January 2010, Queensland recorded a decrease of 1.8% in passenger vehicle sales.Total new vehicle sales decreased by 3.4% over the same period.

In February 2000, new passenger vehicle sales accounted for 62% of total new vehicle sales in Queensland. By February 2010, the proportion for new passenger vehicle sales had fallen to 53%.

Further information about new motor vehicle sales can be accessed from Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia (cat. no. 9314.0) or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released monthly.


PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the September 2009 and the December 2009 quarters, the Queensland chain volume trend estimate of private new capital expenditure decreased by 0.9% to $5,601 million.

During the same period, expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by 1.6% to $2,824 million while expenditure on Buildings and structures decreased less than 0.1 % to $2,777 million.

Comparing the December 2009 quarter with the December 2008 quarter, Queensland's total private new capital expenditure decreased by 13%. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by 17% and expenditure on Buildings and structures decreased by 9.4%.

Further information on this topic can be accessed at Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure, Australia (cat. no. 5625.0) or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released quarterly.