Australian retail sales jumps 7% in November

Western Australia, Queensland, NSW were the top states for retail gains.

Australian retail sales increased in November, driven by early Christmas purchases, recording a 7.0% year-on-year rise to US$ 26.2b (AU$39.1b), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported.

Household goods retailing saw the largest increase, up 10.1%, whilst other retailing, including recreation and specialty goods, rose 9.2%.

Cafés, restaurants, and takeaway food services also rose 9.2%; clothing, footwear, and personal accessory retailing increased 8.9%; and food retailing grew by 3.8%.

The report identified Western Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales as the major states contributing to solid growth.

Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Chief Executive Officer Chris Rodwell said the month’s performance highlights a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour around the “peak season” trading period.

Rodwell noted that the figures reflect a trend of earlier Christmas shopping among Australians. Almost one in three shoppers began their Christmas shopping earlier than in 2024, driven by deal-oriented events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to an ARA survey.

“Consumers are seeking both value and convenience. They’re starting earlier, taking advantage of promotions, and spreading their spend across November and early December — and that’s reflected clearly in the ABS turnover data,” Rodwell said.

1 AU$ = 0.67 US$