Retail sales continue to rise, up 0.6 per cent in August

Australian retail turnover rose 0.6 per cent in August 2022, according to Retail Trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

The August increase was the eighth consecutive rise and follows a 1.3 per cent rise in July 2022, and a 0.2 per cent rise in June 2022.

Ben Dorber, head of retail statistics at the ABS, said: “This month’s rise was driven by the combined increase in food related industries, with cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services up 1.3 per cent and food retailing up 1.1 per cent.”

“While households continue to spend, non-food industry results were mixed and only contributed a small amount to the total rise in retail turnover.”

Department stores rose by 2.8 per cent to a new record level, while household goods retailing had its largest rise since March 2022, up 2.6 per cent, having recorded three falls in the previous four months.

Other retailing fell for the first time following five consecutive monthly rises, down 2.5 per cent, and is the largest fall in other retailing this year. Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing also recorded its largest fall this year, down 2.3 per cent in August following two consecutive rises.

Turnover rose in Tasmania (2.2 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (1.9 per cent), New South Wales (1.5 per cent), South Australia (1.3 per cent), and Victoria (0.1 per cent).

Two states recorded falls with Western Australia down 0.2 per cent and Queensland down 0.1 per cent. The Northern Territory remained relatively unchanged (0.0 per cent).

More industry and state analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0).