The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the ABS August Retail Trade figures released today show a meager 0.3 percent growth in retail trade. ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said other key economic indicators were released today pointing to concerns with several parts of the Australian economy. “The October 2010 ACCI Survey of Investor Confidence today shows deterioration in business conditions and dented business confidence over the September quarter. The AIG/Commonwealth Bank... ...Read more »

New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that retail sales rose by 0.6% in April, including a 1.3% increase in food retailing and a 0.7% drop in the Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services sector. In current price trend terms, both sectors showed growth of 0.2%, an increase in the trend now for 23 consecutive months. The Australian Retailers Association described the month’s growth as ‘dismal’, suggesting that consumers were beginning to cocoon in their homes. “April... ...Read more »

Food retail sales rose again in March, according to the latest ABS data, but the rate of growth has fallen as restaurants and take-away outlets received a more substantial boost. The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the 2.2 per cent growth in retail turnover for March was in line with predictions and showed signs of slow recovery as cashed-up consumers re-entered the market. ARA Executive Director Richard Evans suggested the better-than-expected figures were the result of economic stimuli... ...Read more »

ABS Retail Trade figures for May 2008, released yesterday, indicated that there is still some resistance to the rising cost of living by consumers.ANRA (Australian National Retailers Association) CEO, Margy Osmond, believes the figures, while more positive than in recent months, are still worrying for some retailers. “Retail turnover has picked up, rising by 0.7 per cent in May. This is the best result by far for the year to date,” she said. “Consumer spending has been strongest... ...Read more »