Australia Retail Sales MoMJuly 2023 Data - 1982-2022 Historical - August Forecast

Retail sales in Australia increased by 0.5% mom in July 2023, topping market estimates of 0.3% and reversing from a final 0.8% fall in the previous month, preliminary data showed. Most non-food industries rose following larger falls in June. Department stores (3.6% vs -4.8% in June) recorded the largest rise, followed by clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (2.0% vs -2.3%), and other retailing (0.3% vs -2.3%). Household goods retailing recorded a second consecutive fall (-0.2% vs -0.1%), the eighth monthly fall in the past 12 months. Meantime, food-related spending was mixed, with a rise in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.3% vs -0.2%) while food retailing remained unchanged (vs 0.2% in June). Retail turnover was mixed across the states and territories, with sales growing in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory while those fell in South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and Western Territory.

Retail sales in Australia declined by 0.8% mom in June 2023, unrevised from the flash print and after a 0.8% growth in the previous month. This was the second time of drop in retail trade so far this year, as cost-of-living pressures continued to weigh on consumer spending. Department stores (-5.0% vs -0.7% in May) logged the largest fall, followed by other retailing (-2.2% vs 2,8%), clothing, footwear (-2.2% vs -1.3%), household goods retailing (-0.1% vs 0.7%), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food (-0.3% vs 1.3%). Meantime, food retailing rose much softer (0.1% vs 0.5%). Across states and territories, sales fell in New South Wales (-1.1% vs 0.7% in May), Victoria (-1.3% vs 1.2%), Queensland (-0.7% vs 0.6%), South Australia (-0.2% vs 0.5%), and Australian Capital Territory (-1.0% vs 1.2%). By contrast, sales grew in Western Australia (0.5% vs 0.2%), and Tasmania (0.6% vs flat reading). For Q2 of 2023, retail sales fell by 0.5%, the third quarterly drop, after a 0.5% fall in Q1.

Retail sales in Australia unexpectedly declined by 0.8% mom in June 2023, compared with market estimates of a flat reading and after an upwardly revised 0.8% growth in the previous month, flash data showed. This was the second time of drop in retail trade so far this year, as cost-of-living pressures continued to weigh on consumer spending. Department stores (-5.0%) logged the largest fall, followed by other retailing (-2.2%) and clothing, footwear (-2.2%). Household goods retailing also fell (-0.1%), marking the eighth monthly decline. Food-related spending was mixed, with a fall in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food (-0.3%) and a rise in food retailing (0.1%). Across states and territories, sales fell in New South Wales (-1.1% vs 0.7% in May), Victoria (-1.3% vs 1.2%), Queensland (-0.7% vs 0.6%), South Australia (-0.2% vs 0.5%), and Australian Capital Territory (-1.0% vs 1.2%). By contrast, sales grew in Western Australia (0.5% vs 0.2%), and Tasmania (0.6% vs flat reading).