Australian retail sales increased 3% year-on-year in November 2024, with Black Friday sales delivering a vital boost. According to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), shoppers spent more than $37 billion across the country in November.
Most categories recorded growth, with the most significant year-on-year sales increases coming from other retailing - including recreational, sporting goods and cosmetics (up 7%) and cafes, restaurants, and takeaway (up 3.6%) along with food (up 2.8%).
Household goods increased (up 1.2%), The only category to record a decline was Department Stores (down 1.2%)
Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown said November's results were bolstered by Black Friday activity and spending food and hospitality categories as Australians entered peak season.
"The growing popularity of Black Friday gave retailers some much-needed reprieve in November with shoppers seeking out bargains amid intense financial pressure.
"This bargain hunting focus and a continued trend towards spending on little luxuries and the desire to celebrate the festive season with friends and family strongly contributed to November's overall spending growth.
"We are pleased to see such a solid spending result in a challenging year, especially given the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to again keep the cash rate on hold," said Ms Brown.
The ARA notes there are some timing differences in 2024 figures, with Cyber Monday falling in December with those results to appear in the following month's figures.
CATEGORY |
November 2023 |
November 2024 |
CHANGE |
| Food | $14.222 billion | $14.616 billion | +2.8% |
| Household goods | $ 5.922 billion | $5.992 billion | +1.2% |
| Clothing, footwear, accessories | $ 3.015 billion | $3.068 billion | +1.8% |
| Department stores | $ 1.967 billion | $1.943 billion | -1.2% |
| Cafes, restaurants, takeaway | $ 5.373 billion | $5.568 billion | +3.6% |
| Other | $ 5.479 billion | $5.865 billion | +7.0% |
| Total | $35.978 billion | $37.053 billion | +3.0% |
| STATE | November 2023 | November 2024 | CHANGE |
| New South Wales | $11.222 billion | $11.441 billion | +2.0% |
| Victoria | $9.256 billion | $9.582 billion | +3.5% |
| Queensland | $7.382 billion | $7.676 billion | +4.0% |
| South Australia | $2.335 billion | $2.398 billion | +2.7% |
| Western Australia | $4.052 billion | $4.195 billion | +3.5% |
| Tasmania | $716 million | $ 736 million | +2.8% |
| Northern Territory | $331 million | $340 million | +3.0% |
| ACT | $685 million | $685 million | 0% |
