Australian retail sales rise in Oct. ’24

Australian retail turnover increased 0.6 per cent in October 2024, following a 0.1 per cent growth in September and a 0.7 per cent increase in August, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Monday.

Robert Ewing, Head of Business Statistics at the ABS, attributed the October rise to pre-Black Friday sales activity, with retailers offering discounts on discretionary items to attract consumers.

Non-food industries saw strong growth, with other retailing up 1.6 per cent and household goods retailing up 1.4 per cent, driven by online discounting events and increased spending on electrical goods like televisions and audio-visual equipment.

Food-related industries, including cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services, continued to show positive growth. Food retailing also saw an increase of 0.3 per cent, driven by a 1.7 per cent rise in liquor sales.

Attribution: The Australian Bureau of Statistics report

Subediting: M. S. Salama