January retail sales improve defying Omicron, supply chain woes
Despite the Omicron surge and supply chain issues, retail sales increased in January.
Despite the Omicron surge and supply chain issues, retail sales increased in January.
Pent up consumer demand will make this a bumper sales season for well prepared retailers.
Food sales are approaching “pre-crisis levels” as major COVID-driven disruptions appear to be “behind us”, according to agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank.
The Australian dollar has dropped on the back of a lower than expected increase in retail sales, with purchases taking a dive for department stores and household good retailers.
After predictions of dismal Christmas and New Year sales were realised by smaller retailers across the country, many say they’re expecting 2012 to be another flat year for trade.
Retail turnover fell during the all-important month of December, thanks to a sales slump in food retailing and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services.
Small business sales were up in October, suggesting that consumer spending will creep back in the lead up to Christmas, according to the latest figures from ANZ.
Retailers aren’t counting on joy to save the year, with Christmas sales projected to see only a small growth over last year’s figures.
The Australian Retailers Association said the ABS July Retail Trade figures released yesterday showing a 0.7 percent growth in July retail trade was “not good enough”.
Retail trade in Australia has improved, but only by 0.2 percent in June, repeating the 0.2 percent growth in retail sales recorded by the ABS in May this year.