1345.4 - SA Stats, Mar 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/03/2010   
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CONSUMPTION


RETAIL TRADE

After recording a fall of 4.0% in December 2009, South Australian retail sales rebounded to record the strongest growth of all the capitals in January 2010 (3.7%). The January sales estimate of $1,454.6m was only 0.5% below the November high of $1,462.2m. Nationally, retail turnover rose 1.2% to $20,144.9m in January 2010. South Australia's contribution to total retail turnover in Australia rose slightly to 7.2%.

RETAIL TURNOVER, Seasonally adjusted, South Australia
Graph: RETAIL TURNOVER, Seasonally adjusted, South Australia


Comparing January 2010 with January 2009, 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 13.6% to $100.3m, and Other retailing, which rose 12.9% to $216.8m.

Household goods retailing and Food retailing were the only South Australian industry groups to record a decrease in turnover over this period, falling 4.1% and 1.4% respectively.

RETAIL TURNOVER, Seasonally adjusted, Change from January 2009 to January 2010, South Australia
Graph: RETAIL TURNOVER, Seasonally adjusted, Change from January 2009 to January 2010, South Australia



NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

In January 2010, 3,367 new passenger vehicles and 5,944 new vehicles in total (in seasonally adjusted terms) were sold in South Australia.

In Australia, 48,762 new passenger vehicles and 86,636 new vehicles in total (in seasonally adjusted terms) were sold in January 2010.

NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, South Australia
Graph: NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, South Australia


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.