Clothing and footwear sales lead Australian retail to slight uptick in May

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show that retail sales rose 0.2% in May, seasonally adjusted, compared with a rise of 0.6% the previous month.

In original terms, turnover increased 0.6% in the 12 months to May 2010. The ABS chart at left shows monthly turnover from the past 12 months.

Clothing, Footwear & Other Personal Accessory Retailing (1.7%) and Department Stores (1.0%) recorded the largest increases in May followed by Cafes, Restaurants & Takeaway Food Services (0.8%), Other Retailing (0.3%) and Food Retailing (0.2%). Sales fell in Household Goods Retailing (-1.4%).

New South Wales (0.9%) and Victoria (0.2%) recorded increases in sales in May. Sales decreased in the other states and territories: South Australia (-0.9%), the Australian Capital Territory (-0.6%), the Northern Territory (-0.4%), Western Australia (-0.3%), Queensland (-0.2%), Tasmania (-0.1%).

Trend turnover grew 0.2% in May 2010. This follows a 0.2% rise in both April 2010 and March 2010.

MAY KEY POINTS, CURRENT PRICES

• The trend estimate increased 0.2% in May 2010. This follows a 0.2% increase in April 2010 and a 0.2% increase in March 2010.
• The seasonally adjusted estimate increased 0.2% in May 2010. This follows a 0.6% increase in April 2010 and a 0.8% increase in March 2010.
• In original terms, Australian turnover increased 2.6% in May 2010. Australian turnover increased 0.6% in May 2010 compared with May 2009.
• The following industries increased in trend terms in May 2010: Food retailing (0.3%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.2%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.2%) and Other Retailing (0.1%). Household good retailing (0.0%) remained unchanged. Department stores (-0.3%) decreased in May 2010.
• The following states and territories increased in trend terms in May 2010: Northern Territory (0.7%), South Australia (0.6%), Victoria (0.4%), Queensland (0.1%) and Tasmania (0.1%). Western Australia (0.0%) and the Australian Capital Territory (0.0%) remained unchanged. New South Wales (-0.1%) decreased in May 2010.

In current price trend terms, Australian turnover increased 0.2% in May 2010 following an increase of 0.2% in each of April and March 2010.

TOTAL RETAIL, MONTHLY

Food retailing (0.3%) and Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.2%) have had an increase in the trend estimate for at least twenty four months.

Clothing, footwear & personal accessory retailing (0.2%) and Other retailing (0.1%) both increased in May 2010. Household goods retailing (0.0%) remained unchanged in May 2010. Department stores (-0.3%) decreased for the fourth consecutive month in May 2010.

The following states and territories have had an increase in the trend estimate for at least eleven months: the Northern Territory (0.7%), South Australia (0.6%) and Victoria (0.4%). Queensland (0.1%) and Tasmania (0.1%) increased in May 2010.

Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory remained unchanged in May 2010. New South Wales (-0.1%) decreased for the fourth consecutive month.

In current price seasonally adjusted terms, Australian turnover increased by 0.2% in May 2010 following increases of 0.6% in April 2010 and 0.8% in March 2010.

In current price original terms, chains and other large retailers increased 2.4% in May 2010. The estimate for smaller retailers increased 3.0% in May 2010.