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Note 05/02/2009: Spreadsheets 9 and 10 were re-issued on 5 February 2009 to correctly annotate state by industry cells for the July to October 2008 reference months. Estimates in these cells are too volatile to be used for assessing month to month movements.

DECEMBER KEY FIGURES

		Dec 08	Nov 08 to Dec 08
		$m	% change
Turnover at current prices
	Trend estimates	np	np
	Seasonally adjusted estimates	19 162.8	3.8
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

Monthly turnover , Trend estimates(a) - % change

• The Federal Government Economic Security Strategy Package implemented in December 2008 has impacted on Australian retail turnover. If the trend estimates in this 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 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. See the Suspension of trend estimates section for details.

• The seasonally adjusted estimate increased by 3.8% in December 2008. This follows increases of 0.4% in November and 1.0% in October 2008. It should be noted that the full retail sample was reinstated from November 2008.
• December 2008 is the largest monthly seasonally adjusted percentage increase since August 2000 following the introduction of the GST.
• In original terms, Australian turnover increased by 29.0% in December 2008 compared with November 2008. Chains and other large retailers (which are completely enumerated) increased by 34.0% while the estimate for 'smaller' retailers increased by 20.1%. Australian turnover increased by 5.7% in December 2008 compared with December 2007. Chains and other large retailers increased by 8.7% while the estimate for 'smaller' retailers increased by 0.3%.

• In seasonally adjusted terms, all industries had an increase in December 2008, with Food retailing (+1.4%), Department stores (+8.3%), Clothing and soft good retailing (+5.8%), Household good retailing (+9.9%), Other retailing (+2.6%) and Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (+1.7%).

• In seasonally adjusted terms, all states had an increase in December 2008, with New South Wales (+4.9%), Victoria (+3.9%), Queensland (+3.2%), South Australia (+2.4%), Western Australia (+2.8%), Tasmania (+4.2%), Northern Territory (+4.8%) and Australian Capital Territory (+3.0%).

• Retail turnover by state and 15 industry subgroups in trend, seasonally adjusted and original terms
• Retail turnover completely enumerated and sample sector, by six industry groups in original terms
• Retail turnover completely enumerated and sample sector, by state in original terms
• Retail turnover completely enumerated sector, total level in trend, seasonally adjusted and original terms.