Retail sales rose 7.0% in November

Australian retail turnover rose 7.0 per cent in November 2020, seasonally adjusted, according to preliminary retail trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).  

Turnover rose 13.2 per cent when compared to November 2019. 

Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys, said: "Victoria saw a large rise, up 21 per cent, as retail stores experienced a full month of trade following the easing of coronavirus restrictions in that state. Excluding Victoria, retail sales rose 2.7 per cent. 

South Australia, which saw a short lockdown within November, had a flat result. Most South Australian retail industries saw falls as a result of temporary store closures, although these falls were offset by a rise in supermarket sales." 

By industry, household goods retailing (13 per cent) led the rises, as Black Friday sales combined with major product releases in the electrical subgroup, led to a spike in turnover across the country.  

The rises in Victoria, and Black Friday purchases, also led to large national monthly rises in clothing, footwear and personal accessories, other retailing, and department stores. 

Further information is available in Retail Trade, Australia, Preliminary (cat no. 8501.0.55.008) and full results will be available in Retail Trade, Australia (8501.0), released 11 January 2021.

The ABS thanks all who contributed data to this release. Further ABS data measuring the impact of COVID-19 on Australia can be found on the new ABS website.