CONSUMPTION


RETAIL TRADE

Western Australia's retail turnover (trend) grew 2.1% ($129 million) to $6,190 million in the three months to July 2008, triple the 0.7% ($41 million) growth recorded in the previous three month period. Nationally, retail turnover (trend) rose 0.3% ($163 million) to $54,621 million in the three months to July 2008, following a growth of 0.2% ($127 million) in the previous three month period.

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

New motor vehicle sales (trend) in Western Australia declined 2.8% (848) to 29,647 vehicles in the three months to August 2008, compared with the previous three month period. There were declines in Sports utility vehicles sales (down 540 or 8.3%), Other vehicle sales - comprising utilities, panel vans, cab chassis, goods carry vans, rigid trucks, prime movers, non-freight carrying trucks and buses (down 216 or 2.8%) and Passenger vehicle sales (down 92 or 0.6%).