Retail spending in Australia up 4.6% in July

All categories recorded growth.

Australian retail spending rose 4.6% in July compared to a year earlier, reaching $37.7b, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ new Monthly Household Spending Indicator.

All categories recorded growth. “Other retailing” jumped 7.6%, cafes, restaurants and takeaway were up 6.7%, and department stores and major online retailers rose 6.0%.

Household goods gained 5.4%, clothing and footwear 3.2%, and food retailing 2.3%.

Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Chris Rodwell welcomed the results, calling it “a solid start for the new fiscal year” that continues the higher spending trend seen through 2025. However, he cautioned that the outlook remains uneven.

However, he warned of challenges ahead, including rising costs, household budget pressures, and a surge in retail crime, which he said costs businesses $9b annually.

The ARA is calling for regulatory reform and a coordinated national approach to retail crime, while urging the Reserve Bank to remain open to interest rate cuts.