CONSUMPTION


RETAIL TRADE

The seasonally adjusted estimate for South Australia's retail turnover fell to $1,452.9 in February 2011. This represented a fall of 0.5% from the previous month ($1,460.2m), but 1.6% above the sales recorded in February 2010 ($1,430.3m). In contrast, national retail turnover rose to $20,534.7m in February 2011; an increase of 0.5% over the previous month and 3.6% above the sales recorded in February 2010 ($19,826.5m). South Australia's contribution to total retail turnover in Australia remained steady at 7.1% in February 2011.

Comparing February 2011 with February 2010, the South Australian industry groups with the largest percentage increases in retail turnover (in seasonally adjusted terms) were Food retailing, up 5.0% to $599.1m and Department stores, up 1.2% to $125.1m.

Other retailing and Clothing, footwear and personal accessories recorded the largest industry group decreases in turnover over this period, falling by 1.9% and 1.7% respectively.

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

In trend terms, sales of new passenger vehicles in South Australia fell slightly to 3,123 in February 2011. This represents a decrease of 0.5% from the January sales (3,138) and is 4.0% lower than sales in February 2010 (3,253). Total new vehicles sales in South Australia fell 0.3% in February 2011 to 5,362.

In Australia, new passenger vehicle sales fell 0.3% to 48,386 in February 2011 from 48,537 in January. The February 2011 estimate is 1.9% below the new passenger vehicle sales for the same time the previous year (49,316). Total new vehicle sales fell 0.3% to 84,485 in February 2011.

*DATA NOTES

Please refer to source publications for impact of floods on data and collections.