Retail Trade, Australia

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Monthly and quarterly estimates of turnover and volumes for retail businesses, including store and online sales.

Reference period
February 2021
Released
1/04/2021

Key statistics

The February 2021 seasonally adjusted estimate: 

  • Fell 0.8% month-on-month. 
  • This updates the fall of 1.1% published in the Preliminary Retail Trade release.
  • Australian turnover rose 9.1% compared to February 2020.
Turnover at current prices
Feb-2021 ($m)Jan-2021 to Feb-2021 (% change)Feb-2020 to Feb-2021 (% change)
Trendnanana
Seasonally Adjusted30,300.6-0.89.1

na not available

Total retail turnover

Changes in this issue

To understand more about any changes in this issue including this months Extraordinary Annual Series Review (EASR), suspension of trend estimates, and COVID-19 in February, please read the survey impacts and changes

Analysis by industry

Food retailing

Food retailing fell 3.0% (-$375.9m) in February, in seasonally adjusted terms.

By industry subgroup, the seasonally adjusted estimate:      

  • fell 2.6% (-$275.2m) for Supermarket and grocery stores.        
  • fell 5.6% (-$74.5m) for Liquor retailing.        
  • fell 2.9% (-$26.2m) for Other specialised food retailing.    

Household goods retailing

Household goods retailing rose 0.7% ($40.9m) in February, in seasonally adjusted terms.    

By industry subgroup, the seasonally adjusted estimate:        

  • rose 2.4% ($49.8m) for Electrical and electronic goods retailing.        
  • rose 1.8% ($26.6m) for Furniture, floor coverings, houseware and textile goods retailing.    
  • fell 1.8% (-$35.6m) for Hardware, building and garden supplies retailing.    

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing rose 1.6% ($38.4m) in February, in seasonally adjusted terms.

By industry subgroup, the seasonally adjusted estimate:

  • rose 2.8% ($21.8m) for Footwear and other personal accessory retailing.        
  • rose 1.0% ($16.5m) for Clothing retailing.    

Department stores

Department stores rose 2.2% ($36.6m) in February, in seasonally adjusted terms.

Other retailing

Other retailing fell 0.4% (-$18.9m) in February, in seasonally adjusted terms.     

By industry subgroup, the seasonally adjusted estimate:        

  • fell 1.7% (-$35.0m) for Other retailing n.e.c..        
  • fell 1.9% (-$10.4m) for Other recreational goods retailing.        
  • fell 1.1% (-$2.3m) for Newspaper and book retailing.        
  • rose 1.7% ($28.8m) for Pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry goods retailing.

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services rose 1.1% ($41.1m) in February, in seasonally adjusted terms.    

By industry subgroup, the seasonally adjusted estimate:

  • rose 2.5% ($53.0m) for Cafes, restaurants and catering services.        
  • fell 0.7% (-$11.9m) for Takeaway food services.

Original estimates for chains and larger retailers, and smaller retailers

  • The original estimate for chains and other larger retailers fell 13.4% in February 2021.
  • The original estimate for smaller retailers fell 5.5% in February 2021.

Data downloads

Time series spreadsheets

Data files

Survey impacts and changes

Changes in this issue

Extraordinary Annual Seasonal Review (EASR)

Suspension of trend series

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in February

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 8501.0.

Inquiries

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