CONSUMPTION


RETAIL TRADE

Note: New Classification

From the July 2009 issue of Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0), the series presented in the publication will be compiled and presented according to a revised industry classification, the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 (cat. no. 1292.0). Previous issues of the publication were based on Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 1993 (cat. no. 1292.0)

The article Changes in Monthly Retail Trade Statistics in the July issue of the publication provides information on the scope of Retail trade statistics under ANZSIC 2006 and the impact on time series and seasonal adjustment.

Further information can also be found in the Information Paper: ANZSIC 2006 Implementation in Retail Trade Statistics, July 2009 (cat. no. 8501.0.55.006).

The August 2009 seasonally adjusted estimate for South Australia's retail turnover was $1,429.1m, while the estimate for Australia was $19,810.3m. South Australia's contribution to total retail turnover in Australia was 7.2%.

From July 2009, the increase in retail turnover for South Australia across all retail industries was 1.1%, while turnover for Australia rose by 0.9%.

Comparing August 2009 with August 2008, the South Australian industry groups with the largest percentage increases in retail turnover (in seasonally adjusted terms) were Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, which rose by 13.8% to $92.8m, and Other retailing, which rose by 6.8% to $214.8m.

Over the same period, Household goods retailing was the only industry group to record a decline in South Australia falling 1.0%.

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

In August 2009, 2,966 new passenger vehicles and 4,835 new vehicles in total (in seasonally adjusted terms) were sold in South Australia.

In Australia, 45,543 new passenger vehicles and 75,388 new vehicles in total (in seasonally adjusted terms) were sold in August 2009.

Note: Suspension of Trend Estimates

Following the Federal Government Budget in May 2009, the eligibility period for the Small Business and General Business Tax Break was extended to December 2009. The rebate level was also increased for small businesses, allowing eligible businesses to claim an increased tax deduction on the purchase of new motor vehicles.

The trend series attempts to measure the underlying behaviour in new motor vehicle sales. In the short term, this measurement may be significantly affected by unusual influences in the original and seasonally adjusted data, like those observed in May and June 2009. If the trend estimates in the publication 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 new motor vehicle sales activity.

The new motor vehicle sales trend series has therefore been suspended from May 2009. The trend series will be reintroduced when more certainty emerges in the underlying behaviour of new car sales.