Retail Spending Up In January: Australia

Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in January 2025, according to seasonally adjusted figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This follows a fall of 0.1 per cent in December 2024 and a rise of 0.7 per cent in November 2024.

Robert Ewing, ABS head of business statistics, said: 'While the pick-up in retail spending since mid-2024 has been boosted by more discretionary spending, this month's rise is mostly driven by food-related spending.'

Trend estimates from March 2020 to June 2022 are not available due to the degree of disruption and volatility caused by COVID-19. Trend estimates throughout the pandemic period are likely to be unhelpful and potentially misleading for users in interpreting underlying trend in retail activity.

Food-related spending bounced back in January following falls last month with rises in both cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (+1.1 per cent) and food retailing (+0.7 per cent).

'Bumper crowds across large-scale events, including record attendance at the Australian Tennis Open and cricket events, lifted spending in catering services,' Mr Ewing said.

'Food retailing also rebounded in January, particularly in Victoria where supply chain disruptions negatively impacted December supermarket spending.'

Most non-food industries rose, led by other retailing (+2.4 per cent), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (+2.0 per cent) and department stores (+0.6 per cent).

This was partly offset by a large fall in household goods retailing (-4.4 per cent).

'The fall in household goods follows four straight rises driven by widespread discounting activity around Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales events,' Mr Ewing said.

'Consumers bought furniture and electrical goods in earlier months to take advantage of the large discounts on offer.'

Retail turnover rose in most states and territories. The only exceptions being New South Wales (-0.3 per cent) and the Northern Territory which remained relatively unchanged.

The ABS would like to thank businesses for their continued support in responding to our surveys.