Aussie retail sales up, trade balance worse than previous period

Retail sales grew by 0.4% in January, following a rise of 0.2% in December. This is in line with estimates.

The key points include:

• The trend estimate rose 0.2% in January 2015. This follows a rise of 0.2% in December 2014 and a rise of 0.3% in November 2014.
• The seasonally adjusted estimate rose 0.4% in January 2015. This follows a rise of 0.2% in December 2014 and a relatively unchanged (0.0%) November 2014.
• In trend terms, Australian turnover rose 3.1% in January 2015 compared with January 2014.
• The following industries rose in trend terms in January 2015: Household goods retailing (0.3%), Food retailing (0.1%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.7%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.3%) and Department stores (0.5%). Other retailing (-0.2%) fell in trend terms in January 2015.
• The following states and territories rose in trend terms in January 2015: Queensland (0.4%), Western Australia (0.4%), New South Wales (0.1%), South Australia (0.3%), Tasmania (0.1%) and the Northern Territory (0.1%). Victoria (0.0%) and the Australian Capital Territory (0.0%) were relatively unchanged in January 2015.

The retail trade report can be found here.


Trade balance was a deficit of $ 0.98 billion in January, worse than the estimated $ 0.94 and an increase from December`s $ 0.50 billion deficit.

A through breakdown can be found from the trade balance report.