Retail and Services Census

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    NAME OF ORGANISATION
    Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

    OVERVIEW
    The Retail Census forms part of the ABS program of integrated economic data collections. The census has been conducted at 5/6 yearly intervals since 1948 with the latest collection (in respect of the 1991-92 reference period ) being the tenth in the series.

    The strategy adopted for the 1991-92 collection was different from previous censuses in that the data were collected through two independent surveys:

    1. a census of 250,000 locations or shops, known as the Retail and Services Census, where a limited range of data (wages and salaries, turnover, employment, floor space and usual weekly trading hours) was collected from every in-scope retail and selected services location in Australia; and
    2. a sample survey of 29,000 retail businesses, known as the Retail Activity Survey, where detailed financial information on income, commodity sales, expenses, assets and liabilities was collected.

    PURPOSE
    The objectives of the Retail Census and Retail Activity Survey are to compile timely and high quality statistics for:
    1. inclusion in National Accounts estimates;
    2. market research and analysis by, for example, retail consultants, the retail industry, retailer associations and State and local government; and
    3. providing feedback to the Business Register on employment and ANZSIC data for the benefit of IRIS based collections, in particular the monthly retail survey.

    SCOPE
    The scope of the census included all shopfront locations operating at 30 June 1992 classified to Division G (Retail Trade) of ANZSIC. A range of services which predominantly operate from shopfront locations were included in the scope of the census because of their association with retailing activity:

    ANZSIC class: 5730 - Cafes and Restaurants
    8632 - Optometry and Optical Dispensing
    9511 - Video Hire Outlets
    9521 - Laundries and Dry Cleaners
    9522 - Photographic Film Processing
    9526 - Hairdressing and Beauty Salons

    Non shopfront locations classified to the above (eg industrial canteens, commercial laundries etc) were excluded from the scope of the survey. Also excluded were home based businesses, door to door sellers, direct marketers and retail locations operating from non- fixed premises.

    Based on a range of quality checks, it is estimated that overall 2-5% of businesses in scope of the census and operating at 30 June 1992 were not included on the population listing. These businesses were generally small and their contribution to aggregates such as turnover and wages and salaries would have been negligible.

    DATA DETAIL

    Conceptual framework
    The population for the 1991-92 Retail census was formed primarily from a listing of retail locations provided on contract from Australia Post. This population was supplemented after checking against the ABS Business Register. The population for each of the previous censuses was drawn from the ABS Business Register.

    The census is a component of the ABS's industry statistics system, which has been developed so that data from each industry sector within the program conform to the same basic conceptual standards, allowing comparative analysis across different industry sectors.

    Main outputs
    Retail Locations: Summary statistics (number of locations, persons employed, wages and salaries, turnover, floorspace) by Australia/State by Industry Class

    Shopfront Retailing: Summary statistics by Statistical Local Area (SLA) and Industry Class

    Shopfront Retailing : Summary statistics for Selected Shopping Areas by Industry Group

    Retail Locations: Commodity Sales by SLA and Industry Class

    Classifications
    For the 1991-92 collection, locations were classified to industry according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). Industries in scope of the census included:

    Food Retailing

    5110 Supermarkets and Grocery Stores
    5121 Fresh Meat, Fish and Poultry
    5122 Fruit and Vegetable
    5123 Liquor
    5124 Bread and Cake
    5125 Takeaway Food
    5129 Specialised Food Retailing

    Personal and Household Good Retailing

    5210 Department Stores
    5221 Clothing
    5222 Footwear
    5223 Fabric and Other Soft Good
    5231 Furniture
    5232 Floor Covering
    5233 Domestic Hardware and Houseware
    5234 Domestic Appliance
    5235 Recorded Music
    5241 Sport and Camping Equipment
    5242 Toy and Game
    5243 Newspaper, Book and Stationery
    5244 Photographic Equipment
    5245 Marine Equipment
    5251 Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and Toiletry
    5252 Antique and Used Good
    5253 Garden Supplies
    5254 Flower Retailing
    5255 Watch and Jewellery
    5259 Retailing n.e.c.
    5261 Household Equipment Repair Services (Electrical)
    5269 Household Equipment Repair Services n.e.c.

    Motor Vehicle Retailing and Services

    5311 Cars
    5312 Motor Cycle Dealing
    5313 Trailer and Caravan Dealing
    5321 Automotive Fuel
    5322 Automotive Electrical Services
    5323 Smash Repairing
    5324 Tyres
    5329 Auto Repair & Services n.e.c

    Selected Personal Services

    5730 Cafes and Restaurants
    *8632 Optometry and Optical Dispensing
    9511 Video Hire Outlets
    9521 Laundries and Dry Cleaners
    9522 Photographic Film Processing
    9526 Hairdressing and Beauty Salons

    * Includes only part of this ANZSIC class - excluded are businesses mainly involved in testing sight, diagnosing sight defects or in prescribing spectacles or contact lenses.

    The framework used to classify locations to area for the 1991-92 census was Edition 2.1 (effective 1 January 1991) of the Australian Standard Geographic Classification (ASGC).

    Other concepts (summary)
    Not Applicable

    GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
    Australia
    New South Wales
    Victoria
    Queensland
    South Australia
    Western Australia
    Tasmania
    Northern Territory
    ACT
    Statistical Local Area
    Statistical District
    Statistical Region
    Other (specify below)

    Comments and/or Other Regions
    Some limited data for specific 'Shopping Centres' as well.

    COLLECTION FREQUENCY
    6 Yearly

    Frequency comments
    Has varied but generally about 6 yearly

    COLLECTION HISTORY
    The Retail Census forms part of the ABS program of integrated economic data collections. The census has been conducted at 5/6 yearly intervals since 1948 with the latest collection (in respect of the 1991-92 reference period ) being the tenth in the series (and the fifth conducted as a component of the integrated industry statistics system).

    DATA AVAILABILITY
    Yes

    Data availability comments
    Refer to Section 12.4 for details of data available.


    DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT
    22/04/2002 08:40 AM