Retailers in NSW are calling on the NSW Government to implement new measures to help reduce business costs and support jobs during the economic downturn. At the Jobs Summit in Sydney yesterday retailers prepared a wish list, which included: • Full deregulation of trading hours, similar to the ACT or the Tasmanian model; • Creating a single ‘can do’ contact point in the Premier’s office to facilitate retail investment in NSW; • Reducing red tape – drawing on the Victorian... ...Read more »

The oft-criticised GROCERYchoice website, which gives price comparison information from supermarkets, will be relaunched by consumer advocates Choice in July next year. The new site will provide consumers with ”far more up-to-date information on prices, a run down of weekly specials offered by supermarkets and a range of new features,” according to the consumer group. An online survey asking the community what they want from GROCERYchoice is now on Choice online and interested parties... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said new research released today in the ARA Retail Christmas Expectations Survey showed retailers are cautiously optimistic about trading during the holiday season, with 43% expecting sales to be the same or better than last year’s record trade. ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said the ARA Retail Christmas Expectations Survey indicated over 59 per cent of those retailers who were optimistic about the 2008 Christmas trading... ...Read more »

The ACT community should achieve a reduction of 80 per cent in plastic bag use, ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell said on Friday. Mr Corbell said the ACT would move to instigate a 12-month trial in the first half of next year of a range of measures, including a charge on plastic bags, to reduce plastic bag use. “The 80 per cent target would be consistent with the results achieved in the recent Victorian trial of a plastic bag charge of 10 cents per bag,” he claimed. “One of... ...Read more »

Margy Osmond, CEO of the Australian National Retailers Association, has reported that retailers are keen to participate with government on new plastic bag initiatives following the successful trial of a levy in Victoria a couple of months ago. “We welcome the opportunity to continue and grow our partnership with the Victorian and other state governments to develop a model to further reduce the use of plastic bags,” Mrs Osmond said in response to the Environment Ministers meeting in Adelaide... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has applauded the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to further cut the cash rate by .75 percentage points today. The news of a rate cut is further positive news for the food retail sector, following the release of trend figures for September showing food retailing up 0.6 per cent. Cafes and restaurants, among the hardest hit by the downturn, made a slight comeback – with trend figures climbing 0.2 per cent. ARA... ...Read more »

Australians are likely to be sensible with any cash benefits they receive from the Government’s stimulus package and either put it towards their mortgage or save it, a survey by the Australian National Retailers Association has found. ANRA, which represents Australia’s leading retailers, undertook a poll of 1,000 Australians late last week, asking how consumers will spend their part of the Federal Government’s stimulus package. “Close to 40 per cent of people will put the... ...Read more »

Inflation data for the year to September was released by the ABS today, with the 5% increase the greatest since 1995 (excluding the period when the GST was introduced). The inflation rate is now well above the 2-3% target range of the RBA but is not expected to stop the central bank cutting interest rates at their next meeting in November. Food inflation for the September quarter was at 1.4%, bringing the yearly rate up to 3.4% – well below the figure seen earlier this year when commodity prices... ...Read more »

Shoppers in Warrnambool, Wangaratta and the Fountain Gate area have dramatically cut plastic bag use during the plastic bag levy trial, according to the Victorian Government. From 18 August to 14 September a ten cent government and industry charge was placed on plastic checkout bags from Coles, Woolworths (Safeway) and IGA stores in the three trial areas of Warrnambool, Wangaratta and Fountain Gate. Victorian Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings and CEO of the Australian National... ...Read more »

Retailers Woolworths, Coles, and Franklins have today joined the Australian Food and Grocery Council in a push toward the Daily Intake Guide, with a plan to adopt the labelling system on private label products. The Daily Intake Guide is a front-of-pack food labelling system developed in consultation with dietitians and health experts to assist consumers in understanding what’s in a serve of a particular product and how it contributes to their daily diet. Australian National Retailers Association... ...Read more »