RETAIL INDUSTRY AND COMMODITY SALES
PURPOSE
To provide detailed financial information on the operations of public and private employing retail businesses in the Australian economy. Some retailing industries are either wholly or partially included in the Industry Classification of the Australian Culture and Leisure Classifications and numerous commodities sold by retailing businesses are regarded as culture and leisure products, as indicated by the Product Classification of the Australian Culture and Leisure Classifications.
DESCRIPTION
Information for the 1998-99 Retail Industry Survey was obtained by mail-out questionnaire from a sample of approximately 7,200 public and private employing businesses in Australia recorded on the ABS business register with a predominant activity of retailing (i.e. ANZSIC Division G).
The ABS defines a retail business as a business mainly engaged in the resale of new or used goods to final consumers for personal of household consumption, or in selected repair activities such as repair of household equipment or motor vehicles.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Irregular
DATA ITEMS
Industry of retailing business
Retailing businesses are classified to ANZSIC classes (4-digit level). Refer to ANZSIC codes related to culture and leisure for more information.
Employment
Employment at the end of the reference period may be categorised by the following characteristics. These are each in turn classified by sex. The categories are:
Working proprietors and partners of unincorporated businesses
Full-time employees
Part-time employees
Commodity items sold
The product classification used in the 1998-99 Retail collection was formed by aggregating the 1,100 or so products in the Input-Output Product Classification, taking into account how products sold by retail businesses are grouped in records and the need to comply with international standards. Retail sales income and gross margin data were collected for 127 commodity categories, some of which include or comprise culture and leisure products as defined in the Product Classification of the Australian Culture and Leisure Classifications. Categories include:
Swimwear, tracksuits and other sportswear
Running and jogging shoes
Other sports footwear
Hiking boots
Television sets
Video cassette recorders and players
Computer game machines
Pre-recorded audio CDs
Musical instruments
Books
Artworks
Craftworks
Hobby equipment
Bicycles
Ride-on toys
Other toys and games
Fishing tackle and bait supplies
Other sporting goods
Camping equipment
Business income items
Total business income is broken down into categories including:
Retail sales
Wholesale sales
Commission income
Other service income
Rent, leasing and hiring income
Funding from Federal, State/Territory and/or Local Government
Other income
Commodity income items
For each commodity category the following data items are collected:
Retail sales income (from sale of commodities during the reference period)
Gross margin (the difference between the price for which a business purchases goods and the price for which they are sold, expressed as a percentage of the selling price)
Expense items
Total business expenses are broken down into categories including:
Wages and salaries
Employer contribution to superannuation funds
Worker's compensation costs
Fringe benefits tax
Payroll tax
Purchases
Depreciation
Rent, leasing and hiring expenses
Advertising expenses
Interest expenses
Other expenses
Business size
The size of the business in terms of its number of employees at the end of the reference year. This can be grouped into ranges such as:
0-19 persons
20-199
200 or more
Other business characteristics
Other data items available, including those derived from the items collected, include:
Number of businesses
Number of retail locations
Retail floorspace
Retail sales per square metre of floorspace
Operating profit before tax
Operating profit margin
Opening inventories
Closing inventories
Inventory turnover
Production of goods
Retailers are asked to provide a dissection of total sales income (retail plus wholesale) into the following categories:
Produced by this business (or for it on commission)
Not produced by this business
Internet orders or sales
Retailers are asked to specify the percentage of total sales income (retail plus wholesale) which had resulted from Internet orders or sales.
Geographic area
Australia, States and Territories.
HISTORICAL DATA
This survey has been conducted in respect of 1991-92 and 1998-99. Prior to the 1991-92 collection, detailed retail industry information was sourced from the Retail Census which was conducted at 5 or 6 year intervals from 1948.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2000, Retail Industry, Australia, 1998-99, Cat. no. 8622.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $21.00. Also available for 1991-92 and 1985-86.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2000, Retail Industry: Commodity Sales, Australia, 1998-99, Cat. no. 8624.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $21.00. Also available for 1991-92.
Other
National Sport and Recreation Industry Database and Directory (NSRIDD).
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Assistant Director
Service Industries and Small Business Statistics
Locked Bag 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Telephone: Canberra 02 6252 5644
Facsimile: Canberra 02 6252 7004
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au
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