Aussies continue to spend money with the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures showing a modest 3.8 per cent year on year increase in retail sales over the same month in 2024.
Overall spending in retail categories totalled $37.2 billion with the biggest increase in other retailing including household goods (3.8 per cent).
Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO, Chris Rodwell, says the spending trend this year remains slightly above 2024 levels which is reassuring for the retail sector, however, cost-of-living pressures and economic uncertainty continue to impact consumer behaviour.
“It’s positive to see the continuation of the elevated growth trend that we’ve seen across the calendar year,” he says.
“However, retail businesses of all sizes remain vulnerable to the dual headwinds of global market volatility and enormous costs of doing business.”
As a sector that employs one in 10 Australians and delivers $430 billion to the national economy, every Australian is impacted by our retail performance, adds Rodwell.
“Geo-political tensions created by the US tariffs are impacting business and consumer confidence and we need to see a robust response from government to keep our Australian retailers stable, productive and competitive through this challenging period.
“From productivity measures to reduction in red-tape, we urge policy makers to support the sustainability and growth of these vital retail employers as they continue to grapple with cost increases from rent, wages, energy, insurance as well as ongoing supply chain instability.”
