A Queensland bounce-back was not enough to stop national retail figures slipping into the red in April.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed Australian retail turnover fell 0.1 percent in that month.
ABS Head of Business Statistics Robert Ewing said the drop follows growth of 0.3 percent in March 2025 and 0.2 percent in February 2025.
“Falls (in April) were partly offset by a bounce-back in Queensland as businesses recovered from the negative impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month,” Mr Ewing said.
He said there were mixed results across the industries with the largest falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-2.5 percent) and department stores (-2.5 percent).
“Clothing retailers told us that the warmer-than-usual weather for an April month saw people holding off on buying clothing items, especially new winter season stock.”
Mr Ewing said having underpinned recent growth, food-related spending continued to rise, with growth in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (+1.1 percent).
“The rise in food-related spending was driven by more dining out in Queensland this month. The bounce-back comes after adverse weather negatively impacted cafe and restaurant sales.”
He said retail turnover rose in Queensland (+1.4 percent) and Western Australia (+0.4 percent).
“Queensland retailers recovered from temporary business closures and fewer customers.
“In April, we saw higher spending in the industries most impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. More people dined out and made recovery purchases on household items like furniture and electrical goods.”
