CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT

Retail trade

New motor vehicle sales

Private new capital expenditure



RETAIL TRADE

The Federal Government Economic Security Strategy Package implemented in December 2008 has impacted on Australian retail turnover. If trend estimates 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 retail activity. Until data is available in future months, it is not possible to determine the trend in retail turnover through the period affected by the stimulus package. As a result, the retail trend series have been suspended as at November 2008.

The December 2008 seasonally adjusted estimate for Queensland's retail turnover was $3,944.4 million, a 3.2% increase from November 2008. Food retailing accounted for 41% of total retail turnover in December 2008, followed by Household good retailing at 17%.

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

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

In trend terms, 8,402 new passenger vehicles and 16,033 new vehicles in total were sold in December 2008 in Queensland. Corresponding sales for Australia were 44,910 and 76,319. When comparing December 2008 with November 2008, Queensland's passenger vehicle sales fell by 0.6% and total vehicle sales by 1.2%. This was the twelfth consecutive monthly decrease for both total vehicle sales and passenger vehicle sales.

In December 1998, new passenger vehicle sales accounted for 65% of total new vehicle sales in Queensland. By December 2008, the proportion for new passenger vehicle sales had fallen to 52%.

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

PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the June 2008 and the September 2008 quarters, the Queensland chain volume trend estimate of private new capital expenditure increased by 4.2% to $4,883 million.

During the same period, expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery increased by 0.8% to $2,790 million while expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by 9.3% to $2,096 million.

Comparing the September 2008 quarter with the September 2007 quarter, Queensland's total private new capital expenditure increased by 20%. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery grew by 7.1% and expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by 43%.

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