Rise in Australia retail sales
08 December 2015 by News Desk
Department stores in Australia saw the biggest rise in consumer spending in October.
There was a 3.5% rise in sales at department stores across the country fuelled by a rush for new summer clothing. The figures contributed to an overall 0.5% rise in retail spending across Australia in October.
Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show food sales grew by 0.6%, household goods by 1.1% and department stores by 3.5%. Meanwhile, there was a small decline (0.6%) in sales at cafes and restaurants.
Online retail sales slowed in October and, while internet shopping increased by 3.5%, the volume of sales is much lower than has been seen in recent years.
In annual terms, total retail sales are expected to show a rise of around 4% over the course of 2015.
A separate report by Westpac and the Melbourne Institute shows that consumer sentiment (confidence) has risen and suggests a boom to come in Christmas shopping.
