MEDIA RELEASE
7 April 2015	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	48/2015

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.7 per cent in February following a rise of 0.5 per cent in January 2015, seasonally adjusted.

In seasonally adjusted terms the largest contributor to the rise was food retailing (1.2 per cent). Household goods retailing (1.8 per cent) and other retailing (1.3 per cent) also recorded rises in February 2015. There were falls in department stores (-3.2 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.4 per cent) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.2 per cent).

In seasonally adjusted terms there were rises in all states and territories in February 2015. The largest contributor was New South Wales (0.7 per cent) followed by Victoria (0.8 per cent), South Australia (1.7 per cent), Western Australia (0.7 per cent), Queensland (0.2 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (1.6 per cent), the Northern Territory (2.3 per cent.) and Tasmania (0.7 per cent).

The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in February 2015 following a 0.3 per cent rise in January 2015. Through the year, the trend estimate rose 4.0 per cent in February 2015 compared to February 2014.

Online retail turnover contributed 2.8 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms.

More detailed industry analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0) available for download from the ABS website - https://www.abs.gov.au


Media note:

• Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• For a detailed definition of each industry group and subgroup in terms of its ANZSIC 2006 classes, please refer to paragraph 6 of the Explanatory Notes.