Australian retail turnover rose 0.4 per cent in April 2018, seasonally adjusted, with cafes, restaurants and takeaways leading the rise assisted by an unusually warm April across much of Australia, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures. This follows a relatively unchanged result (0.0 per cent) in March 2018. "Cafes, restaurants and takeaways (1.3 per cent) led the rises" said Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys, "whilst there were also rises in other retailing (0.9 per cent), food retailing (0.3 per cent) and household goods retailing (0.7 per cent). The ... (full story)

Australian retail sales rebounded in April. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), sales rose by 0.4% in seasonally adjusted terms, topping forecasts for an increase of 0.3%. “Cafes, restaurants and takeaways (1.3%) led the rises” said Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys at the ABS. “While there were also rises in other retailing (0.9%), food retailing (0.3%) and household goods retailing (0.7%), they were partially offset by falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessories (0.8%) and department stores (0.9%).” James said the divergent performance may have been due to a ... (full story)