CONSUMPTION


RETAIL TRADE

The December 2010 seasonally adjusted estimate for South Australia's retail turnover was $1,426.7m, a fall of 1.3% from the previous month ($1,445.9m), and 0.9% below the sales recorded in December 2009 ($1,413.9m). Nationally, retail turnover rose to $20,358.2m in December 2010; an increase of 0.2% over the previous month and 2.1% above the sales recorded in December 2009 ($19,939.5m). South Australia's contribution to total retail turnover in Australia fell slightly to 7.0%.

Comparing December 2010 with December 2009, the South Australian industry groups with the largest increases in retail turnover (in seasonally adjusted terms) were Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, up 30.6% to $102.1m and Cafe, restaurants and takeaway food services, up 3.9% to $151.6m.

Other retailing recorded the largest industry group decrease in turnover over this period, falling by 3.3%.

*IMPACT OF THE FLOODS

Flooding in Queensland began in late December 2010. It is expected that the first significant economic impact of this and floods in other states will be reflected in the January 2011 release of Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0) .

Data collection activities for December 2010, particularly in Queensland, were affected by the floods, however, this has not affected the data quality or reliability of the Australian series.

Original estimates for December 2010 may be subject to revision in future Retail Trade, Australia releases.


NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

In trend terms, sales of new passenger vehicles in South Australia rose to 3,195 in December 2010. The latest rise represents a slight increase (0.5%) from the November sales (3,179) but is 1.7% lower than sales in December 2009 (3,251). In contrast, total new vehicles sales fell 0.4% in December 2010 to 5,410.

In Australia, new passenger vehicle sales rose 1.1% to 49,469 in December 2010 from 48,929 in November. The December 2010 estimate is 2.9% above the new passenger vehicle sales for the same time the previous year (48,057). Total new vehicle sales also rose (0.2%) to 85,906 in December 2010.