The latest ABS Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in January 2012, seasonally adjusted, following a fall of 0.1per cent in December 2011.
The rise was driven by cafes, restaurants and catering services (6.6 per cent) which is a subgroup of cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (4.3 per cent). Across the remaining industry groups, turnover rose in other retailing by 0.2 per cent and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing by 0.1 per cent and fell in household goods retailing (-1.8per cent) and department stores (-0.2 per cent).
Food retailing remained unchanged. The state which was the largest contributor to the rise was Queensland – increase by 1.7 per cent-, followed by Western Australia (1.0 per cent), the Northern Territory (3.5 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (2.1 per cent) and Tasmania (0.1 per cent).
These rises were offset by falls in New South Wales (-0.5per cent), Victoria (-0.4 per cent) and South Australia (-0.3 per cent). In trend terms, turnover rose 0.1 per cent in January 2012.