Sept Australian retail sales beats expectations

Australia's Sept retail sales came at +0.6% vs 0.4% exp and 0.4% last.

SEPTEMBER KEY POINTS

CURRENT PRICES

• The trend estimate rose 0.2% in September 2016. This follows a rise of 0.3% in August 2016 and a rise of 0.2% in July 2016.
• The seasonally adjusted estimate rose 0.6% in September 2016. This follows a rise of 0.5% in August 2016 and a relatively unchanged estimate (0.0%) in July 2016.
• In trend terms, Australian turnover rose 2.8% in September 2016 compared with September 2015.
• The following industries rose in trend terms in September 2016: Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.9%), Food retailing (0.2%), Household goods retailing (0.2%) and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.2%). Other retailing (0.0%) was relatively unchanged. Department stores (-0.3%) fell in trend terms in September 2016.
• The following states and territories rose in trend terms in September 2016: Queensland (0.6%), New South Wales (0.2%), Victoria (0.2%), South Australia (0.3%), the Australian Capital Territory (0.4%) and Tasmania (0.1%). Western Australia (-0.1%) and the Northern Territory (-0.1%) fell in trend terms in September 2016.

VOLUME MEASURES

• In volume terms, the trend estimate for Australian turnover rose 0.2% in the September quarter 2016.