CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT


Retail trade

New motor vehicle sales

Private new capital expenditure


RETAIL TRADE

The Federal Government Economic Security Strategy Package implemented in December 2008 has impacted on Australian retail turnover. If trend estimates were to be calculated without fully accounting for this irregular event, they would be likely to provide a misleading view of the underlying trend in retail activity. Until data is available in future months, it is not possible to determine the trend in retail turnover through the period affected by the stimulus package. As a result, the retail trend series have been suspended as at November 2008.

The April 2009 seasonally adjusted estimate for Queensland's retail turnover was $4,012 million, a 0.8% increase from March 2009. Food retailing accounted for the greatest proportion of retail turnover in April 2009, at 42%, followed by Household good retailing, at 16%.

Further information about this topic can be accessed at Retail Trade Trends, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0) or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released monthly.


NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

In trend terms, 7,589 new passenger vehicles and 14,761 new vehicles in total were sold in Queensland in April 2009. Corresponding sales for Australia were 41,746 and 70,572. When comparing April 2009 with March 2009, Queensland recorded a 1.6% decrease in total new vehicle sales, the sixteenth consecutive monthly decrease.

In April 1999, new passenger vehicle sales accounted for 64% of total new vehicle sales in Queensland. By April 2009, the proportion for new passenger vehicle sales had fallen to 51%.

Further information about new motor vehicle sales can be accessed from Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia (cat. no. 9314.0) or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released monthly.


PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the December 2008 and the March 2009 quarters, the Queensland chain volume trend estimate of private new capital expenditure increased by 1.7% to $5,480 million.

During the same period, expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by 4.0% to $2,814 million while expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by 7.7% to $2,649 million.

Comparing the March 2009 quarter with the March 2008 quarter, Queensland's total private new capital expenditure increased by 26%. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery grew by 4.1% and expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by 59%.

Further information on this topic can be accessed at Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure, Australia (cat. no. 5625.0) or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. This publication is released quarterly.