Australian retail turnover fell 0.5 per cent in December 2019, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures.  

This follows a rise of 1.0 per cent in November 2019. 

"The December fall comes after a strong November, led by Black Friday sales" said Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys. "There were also some effects from bushfires and associated smoke haze apparent in New South Wales data. Specifically, food retailing and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services were negatively impacted."

There were falls for department stores (-2.8 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.9 per cent), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-1.5 per cent), food retailing (-0.3 per cent), and household goods retailing (-0.3 per cent). These falls were partially offset by a rise in other retailing (0.2 per cent).

In seasonally adjusted terms, there were falls in New South Wales (-1.2 per cent), Queensland (-0.5 per cent), South Australia (-1.3 per cent), the Northern Territory (-0.4 per cent), and the Australian Capital Territory (-0.1 per cent). Victoria (0.0 per cent) and Western Australia (0.0 per cent) were relatively unchanged. Tasmania (1.1 per cent) rose in seasonally adjusted terms in December 2019. 

The trend estimate for Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in December 2019, following a 0.3 per cent rise in November 2019. Compared to December 2018, the trend estimate rose 2.8 per cent. 

Online retail turnover contributed 6.6 per cent to total retail turnover in original terms in December 2019. In December 2018, online retail turnover contributed 5.6 per cent to total retail. 

Impact of December and January bushfires

Some retail businesses reported negative impacts to retail turnover from bushfires in New South Wales in the December month, especially in Food retailing and Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services. These impacts are included in the aggregate data. Further impacts to retail turnover may be expected in other states and territories in the January 2020 statistics. 

The ABS said bushfires resulted in only minor disruption to data collection activities during January 2020 in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Quality assurance undertaken by the ABS confirmed that these disruptions to data collection did not result in any significant impact to the quality of December Retail Trade statistics. 

More detailed industry analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia. 

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