Australia retail spending up 4% in March

'Other retailing’ category saw the highest growth.

Retail spending in Australia rose 4% in March 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, reaching $37.3b, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Growth was seen across all categories, with the largest increase in ‘other retailing,’ which includes cosmetics, sports, and recreational goods, up by 9%. Clothing, footwear, and accessories grew by 5%, whilst food, department stores, and household goods all saw a 4% rise. Cafes, restaurants, and takeaways had a smaller increase of 1%.

Despite the growth, Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown warned that cost-of-living pressures and economic uncertainty continue to affect consumer behavior.

“Any signs of stability in consumer spending are a welcome boost to business confidence, but we remain far from a retail recovery,” she said.

National Retail Association Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll called the March data a sign of recovery, though acknowledged that weather disruptions in Queensland and New South Wales impacted sales.

“However, premature shop closures triggered by cyclone warnings undercut sales in parts of the nation, namely Queensland and New South Wales, at a time when every dollar counts for business owners,” she said.

“Retailers need greater support to adapt quickly and safely during extreme weather events, without sacrificing their livelihood,” Carroll continued.