New ABS Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover fell 0.5 per cent in May 2014, seasonally adjusted, following a fall of 0.1 per cent in April 2014.
The largest contributor to the fall was clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-2.3 per cent), followed by department stores (-2.6 per cent), household goods retailing (-0.9 per cent) and other retailing (-0.4 per cent). These falls were partially offset by rises in food retailing (0.1 per cent) and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.1 per cent).
In seasonally adjusted terms the state that made the largest contribution to the fall was Victoria (-1.1 per cent), followed by New South Wales (-0.5 per cent ), Western Australia (-0.3 per cent ), Queensland (-0.1 per cent ), the Australian Capital Territory (-0.3 per cent ) and Tasmania (-0.2 per cent ). These falls were partially offset by rises in South Australia (0.2 per cent ) and the Northern Territory (0.4 per cent ).
The trend estimate for Australian turnover was relatively unchanged (0.0 per cent) in May 2014, following a rise of 0.1 per cent in April 2014.
More detailed industry analysis and further information on the statistical methodology is available in Retail Trade, Australia.
