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 March 2009 seasonally adjusted estimate for Queensland's retail turnover was $3,979 million, a 3.2% increase from February 2009. Food retailing accounted for the greatest proportion of retail turnover in February 2009, at 42%, followed by Household good retailing, at 15%.

Further information about this topic can be accessed at Retail Trade Trends, 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

In trend terms, 7,787 new passenger vehicles and 15,015 new vehicles in total were sold in Queensland in March 2009. Corresponding sales for Australia were 42,591 and 71,725. When comparing March 2009 with February 2009, Queensland recorded a 1.9% decrease in total new vehicle sales, the fifteenth consecutive monthly decrease.

In March 1999, new passenger vehicle sales accounted for 64% of total new vehicle sales in Queensland. By March 2009, 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 by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released monthly.


PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the September 2008 and the December 2008 quarters, the Queensland chain volume trend estimate of private new capital expenditure increased by 6.6% to $5,439 million.

During the same period, expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery increased by 6.5% to $3,191 million while expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by 7.4% to $2,260 million.

Comparing the December 2008 quarter with the December 2007 quarter, Queensland's total private new capital expenditure increased by 31%. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery grew by 21% and expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by 48%.

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.