The total value of retail sales in Australia gained a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent on month in May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Friday – coming in at A$24.154 billion.
That was shy of forecasts for an increase of 0.5 percent following the downwardly revised 0.1 percent decline in April (originally flat). Sales were up 0.2 percent in March.
Among the individual components, food retailing added 0.2 percent, along with clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.8 percent), household goods retailing (0.3 percent) and other retailing (0.2 percent).
Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services were flat, as were department store sales.
By region, sales in New South Wales and Victoria both added 0.3 percent, along with Queensland (0.2 percent), South Australia (0.3 percent), the Australian Capital Territory (0.3 percent) and Tasmania (0.2 percent).
Western Australia was relatively unchanged, while the Northern Territory eased 0.1 percent.
Also on Friday, the Australian Industry Group said that the service sector in Australia swung to expansion in June, with a Performance of Service Index score of 51.2.
That’s up from 49.6 in May, and it moves back above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Among the individual components, consumer services got a boost from increased housing market growth and low interest rates – while household income and consumer confidence continue to lag.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com