MEDIA RELEASE
6 May 2015	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	55/2015

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March following a rise of 0.7 per cent in February 2015, seasonally adjusted.

In seasonally adjusted terms the largest contributor to the rise was department stores (3.8 per cent), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (2.2 per cent), food retailing (0.4 per cent) and other retailing (0.1 per cent). There were falls in household goods retailing (-1.0 per cent) and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-1.1 per cent).

In seasonally adjusted terms there were rises in Queensland (0.7 per cent), New South Wales (0.3 per cent), Victoria (0.2 per cent), South Australia (0.3 per cent) and Tasmania (0.5 per cent). There were falls in Western Australia (-0.3 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (-0.5%) and the Northern Territory (-0.8 per cent).

The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in March 2015 following a 0.4 per cent rise in February 2015. Through the year, the trend estimate rose 4.3 per cent in March 2015 compared to March 2014.

Online retail turnover contributed 3.0 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms.

More detailed industry analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0) on the ABS website at https://www.abs.gov.au


Media note:

• Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• For a detailed definition of each industry group and subgroup in terms of its ANZSIC 2006 classes, please refer to paragraph 6 of the Explanatory Notes.