Hospitality, food and household goods retailers are tipped for a Christmas shopping boost, while ABS Retail Trade figures for September 2014 show that Australian retail turnover rose 1.2% seasonally adjusted, following an August rise of 0.1%, while the trend estimate was steady at 0.3% and retail turnover volume up 1.0% for September.
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said retailers could count on some steady improvement in retail sales over the Christmas period based on 2014 pre-Christmas sales predictions prepared by the ARA and research partner Roy Morgan Research.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said shoppers would spend a whopping $45 billion from 15 November until 24 December, representing a 4.3% gain on sales during the same period in 2013 ($43 billion).
“The 4.3% growth may result in shoppers starting their Christmas shopping a little earlier this year, rather than leaving it until late December. However, we also know that the week before Christmas will remain the busiest time for pre-Christmas shopping, and therefore the most profitable time for retailers,” he said.
In the September retail trade figures, in seasonally adjusted terms, household goods retailing with 4.1% growth was led by electrical and electronic goods retailing (9.2%), influenced by the release of the iPhone 6 during the month.
Other industries showing rises were cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (2.0%), food retailing (0.4%), department stores (1.3%) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.4%). This was partially offset by a fall in other retailing (-0.2%).
In seasonally adjusted terms the states/territories showing the largest rises were NSW (1.7%), Victoria (1.3%), WA (1.3 per cent), SA (1.2 per cent) and the ACT (1.9% per cent).
Online retail turnover contributed 2.8% to total retail turnover in original terms.