Australia’s retail sales up 1.4% in Q2

This is the third consecutive growth since Q4 2021.

Retail sales volume in Australia grew by 1.4% in the quarter ending in June, reaching a new record level, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

This is also the third consecutive quarter that retail sales showed an increase, since climbing by 7.7% in the last quarter of 2021. In the March quarter, retail sales volume rose by 1%. 

“Sales volumes continued to rise into the June quarter, despite the largest rises in retail prices since the introduction of the GST in 2000, with price rises of 1.7% in June and 1.8% in March,” Ben Dorber, head of retail statistics, said.

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Dorber attributed the June quarter growth to the sales volume from cafes, restaurants, and takeaway foods services, which went up by 8.6% during the quarter. 

Aside from food services, rong growth of 3.9% was also recorded in clothing, footwear, and personal accessory retailing and 3% in department stores. 

“The top three retail industries in the June quarter were all hit hard during lockdowns. Since the end of the Delta lockdowns, they have all continued to recover quickly, as they have returned to more usual trading conditions,” Dorber said.