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 August 2009 seasonally adjusted estimate for Queensland's retail turnover was $4,136 million, a 1.4% increase from July 2009. Food retailing accounted for the greatest proportion of retail turnover in August 2009, at 41%, followed by Household good retailing, at 18%.

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, 8,964 new passenger vehicles and 16,023 new vehicles in total were sold in Queensland in August 2009. Corresponding sales for Australia were 45,543 and 75,388. When comparing August 2009 with July 2009, Queensland recorded an increase of 3.4% in passenger vehicle sales.Total new vehicle sales increased by 0.5% over the same period.

In August 1999, new passenger vehicle sales accounted for 62% of total new vehicle sales in Queensland. By August 2009, the proportion for new passenger vehicle sales had fallen to 56%.

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 March 2009 and the June 2009 quarters, the Queensland chain volume trend estimate of private new capital expenditure decreased by 5.8% to $4,915 million.

During the same period, expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by 5.3% to $2,663 million while expenditure on Buildings and structures decreased by 6.3% to $2,256 million.

Comparing the June 2009 quarter with the June 2008 quarter, Queensland's total private new capital expenditure increased by 2.7%. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by 6.8% and expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by 17%.

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.