CONSUMPTION


RETAIL TRADE

The November 2010 seasonally adjusted estimate for South Australia's retail turnover was $1,450.9m, a fall of 0.9% from the previous month ($1,464.1m), and 0.9% below the sales recorded in November of the previous year ($1,463.9m). Nationally, retail turnover rose to $20,327.5m in November 2010. This represents an increase of 0.3% over the previous month and 1.3% above the sales recorded in November 2009 ($20,071.8m). South Australia's contribution to total retail turnover in Australia fell slightly to 7.1%.

Comparing November 2010 with November 2009, the only South Australian industry groups with increases in retail turnover (in seasonally adjusted terms) were Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, up 22.8% to $112.8m and Cafe, restaurants and takeaway food services, up 6.9% to $155.7m.

Department stores recorded the largest industry group decrease in turnover over this period, falling by 7.8%.

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

Sales of new passenger vehicles in South Australia have fallen for the eleventh consecutive month to 3,141 in November 2010. The latest fall represents a slight drop (0.1%) from the October sales (3,144) and is 3.4% lower than sales in November 2009 (3,252). Total new vehicles sales also fell 0.5% in November 2010 to 5,420.

In Australia, new passenger vehicle sales fell for the seventh consecutive month, down marginally to 47,679 in November 2010 from 47,688 in October. The November 2010 estimate is 0.1% above the new passenger vehicle sales for the same time the previous year (47,623). Total new vehicle sales have remained relatively steady at 85,268 in November 2010.