NAME OF ORGANISATION
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
OVERVIEW
The Retail Census forms part of the ABS program of integrated economic data collections. The census has been conducted at 5/6 yearly intervals since 1948 with the latest collection (in respect of the 1991-92 reference period ) being the tenth in the series.
The strategy adopted for the 1991-92 collection was different from previous censuses in that the data were collected through two independent surveys:
- a census of 250,000 locations or shops, known as the Retail and Services Census, where a limited range of data (wages and salaries, turnover, employment, floor space and usual weekly trading hours) was collected from every in-scope retail and selected services location in Australia; and
- a sample survey of 29,000 retail businesses, known as the Retail Activity Survey, where detailed financial information on income, commodity sales, expenses, assets and liabilities was collected.
PURPOSE
The objectives of the Retail Census and Retail Activity Survey are to compile timely and high quality statistics for:
- inclusion in National Accounts estimates;
- market research and analysis by, for example, retail consultants, the retail industry, retailer associations and State and local government; and
- providing feedback to the Business Register on employment and ANZSIC data for the benefit of IRIS based collections, in particular the monthly retail survey.
SCOPE
The scope of the census included all shopfront locations operating at 30 June 1992 classified to Division G (Retail Trade) of ANZSIC. A range of services which predominantly operate from shopfront locations were included in the scope of the census because of their association with retailing activity:
ANZSIC class: 5730 - Cafes and Restaurants
8632 - Optometry and Optical Dispensing
9511 - Video Hire Outlets
9521 - Laundries and Dry Cleaners
9522 - Photographic Film Processing
9526 - Hairdressing and Beauty Salons
Non shopfront locations classified to the above (eg industrial canteens, commercial laundries etc) were excluded from the scope of the survey. Also excluded were home based businesses, door to door sellers, direct marketers and retail locations operating from non- fixed premises.
Based on a range of quality checks, it is estimated that overall 2-5% of businesses in scope of the census and operating at 30 June 1992 were not included on the population listing. These businesses were generally small and their contribution to aggregates such as turnover and wages and salaries would have been negligible.
DATA DETAIL
Conceptual framework
The population for the 1991-92 Retail census was formed primarily from a listing of retail locations provided on contract from Australia Post. This population was supplemented after checking against the ABS Business Register. The population for each of the previous censuses was drawn from the ABS Business Register.
The census is a component of the ABS's industry statistics system, which has been developed so that data from each industry sector within the program conform to the same basic conceptual standards, allowing comparative analysis across different industry sectors.
Main outputs
Retail Locations: Summary statistics (number of locations, persons employed, wages and salaries, turnover, floorspace) by Australia/State by Industry Class
Shopfront Retailing: Summary statistics by Statistical Local Area (SLA) and Industry Class
Shopfront Retailing : Summary statistics for Selected Shopping Areas by Industry Group
Retail Locations: Commodity Sales by SLA and Industry Class
Classifications
For the 1991-92 collection, locations were classified to industry according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). Industries in scope of the census included:
Food Retailing
5110 Supermarkets and Grocery Stores
5121 Fresh Meat, Fish and Poultry
5122 Fruit and Vegetable
5123 Liquor
5124 Bread and Cake
5125 Takeaway Food
5129 Specialised Food Retailing
Personal and Household Good Retailing
5210 Department Stores
5221 Clothing
5222 Footwear
5223 Fabric and Other Soft Good
5231 Furniture
5232 Floor Covering
5233 Domestic Hardware and Houseware
5234 Domestic Appliance
5235 Recorded Music
5241 Sport and Camping Equipment
5242 Toy and Game
5243 Newspaper, Book and Stationery
5244 Photographic Equipment
5245 Marine Equipment
5251 Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and Toiletry
5252 Antique and Used Good
5253 Garden Supplies
5254 Flower Retailing
5255 Watch and Jewellery
5259 Retailing n.e.c.
5261 Household Equipment Repair Services (Electrical)
5269 Household Equipment Repair Services n.e.c.
Motor Vehicle Retailing and Services
5311 Cars
5312 Motor Cycle Dealing
5313 Trailer and Caravan Dealing
5321 Automotive Fuel
5322 Automotive Electrical Services
5323 Smash Repairing
5324 Tyres
5329 Auto Repair & Services n.e.c
Selected Personal Services
5730 Cafes and Restaurants
*8632 Optometry and Optical Dispensing
9511 Video Hire Outlets
9521 Laundries and Dry Cleaners
9522 Photographic Film Processing
9526 Hairdressing and Beauty Salons
* Includes only part of this ANZSIC class - excluded are businesses mainly involved in testing sight, diagnosing sight defects or in prescribing spectacles or contact lenses.
The framework used to classify locations to area for the 1991-92 census was Edition 2.1 (effective 1 January 1991) of the Australian Standard Geographic Classification (ASGC).
Other concepts (summary)
Not Applicable
GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
ACT
Statistical Local Area
Statistical District
Statistical Region
Other (specify below)
Comments and/or Other Regions
Some limited data for specific 'Shopping Centres' as well.
COLLECTION FREQUENCY
6 Yearly
Frequency comments
Has varied but generally about 6 yearly
COLLECTION HISTORY
The Retail Census forms part of the ABS program of integrated economic data collections. The census has been conducted at 5/6 yearly intervals since 1948 with the latest collection (in respect of the 1991-92 reference period ) being the tenth in the series (and the fifth conducted as a component of the integrated industry statistics system).
DATA AVAILABILITY
Yes
Data availability comments
Refer to Section 12.4 for details of data available.
DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT
22/04/2002 08:40 AM