Retail turnover up 0.6% in September

Australian retail turnover rose 0.6 per cent in September 2022, according to Retail Trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

The September increase was the ninth consecutive rise, following a 0.6 per cent rise in August 2022 and a 1.3 per cent rise in July 2022.

Ben Dorber, ABS head of retail statistics said, “This month’s rise was again driven by the combined strength in the food industries. Food retailing rose 1.0 per cent, while cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services rose 1.3 per cent.

“Many retailers remained open for the National Day of Mourning, an additional one-off public holiday in September, and this boosted spending on food, alcohol and dining out.”

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing had the largest percentage rise, up 2.0 per cent following a large fall of 2.3 per cent in August 2022. Other retailing also rose, up 0.2 per cent.

Household goods retailing fell 0.8 per cent, a slight decrease after last month’s large rise of 2.6 per cent. The fall in September was softened by the release of new mobile phone models and is the fourth monthly fall in household goods retailing in the last six months. Department stores also fell, down 0.4 per cent.

Turnover is at record levels in most states and territories. The Australian Capital Territory had the largest rise in September 2022, up 1.6 per cent, followed by Western Australia (1.4 per cent), Queensland (1.1 per cent), the Northern Territory (1.1 per cent), Tasmania (0.9 per cent), Victoria (0.4 per cent) and New South Wales (0.3 per cent).

South Australia, down 0.2 per cent, was the only state or territory to record a fall, the first in six months after five consecutive rises.

Mr Dorber said the latest Consumer Price Index showed that prices continued to rise strongly in the September quarter. To see the effect of consumer prices on recent turnover growth it will be important to look at quarterly retail sales volumes which will be released later in the week.

Additional information on the September reference period, including quarterly price and volume data, will be released on 4 November 2022.

More industry and state analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0).