Latest news with #RobertEwing
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Australian retail faces dip in April 2025 as clothing sales decline
Seasonally adjusted data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates a slight decline in retail turnover by 0.1% for April 2025. The downturn comes after the sector experienced growth of 0.3% in March and 0.2% in February. The retail landscape has shown varying performance across sectors. There were significant decreases in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, which dropped 2.5%, and department stores also saw a 2.5% reduction in turnover. These declines were somewhat balanced by increases in other sectors such as household goods retailing, which rose 0.6%. ABS business statistics head Robert Ewing stated: 'Retail spending eased in April, particularly on clothing purchases. 'Falls were partly offset by a bounce-back in Queensland as businesses recovered from the negative impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month. 'Clothing retailers told us that the warmer-than-usual weather for April saw people holding off on buying clothing items, especially new winter season stock.' Food-related spending, which has been a driving force behind recent retail growth, continued its upward trajectory as cafés, restaurants and takeaway food services saw a 1.1% increase in turnover. However, this was partially negated by a 0.3% fall in food retailing. Ewing added: '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 café and restaurant sales.' Retail turnover saw regional variations, with Queensland registering a 1.4% increase and Western Australia noting modest growth of 0.4%. All other states and territories witnessed a decrease in retail turnover in a shift from the growth seen in March. Ewing added: 'Queensland retailers recovered from last month's 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.' "Australian retail faces dip in April 2025 as clothing sales decline" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
9 News
5 days ago
- Business
- 9 News
Clothes retailers are paying the price for our unseasonably warm autumn
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Australians might have basked through an unseasonably warm autumn, but not everyone is enjoying the unusually summery weather. New retail data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that Australians spent less in April than the month before. That was due in part to the warm weather, which stopped shoppers from reaching for new winter purchases. Australians have pulled back on clothes shopping during a warmer-than-usual autumn. (Dion Georgopoulos) "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," ABS head of business statistics Robert Ewing said. Australia sweated through its hottest March on record, and April temperatures were a degree above the long-term average. While overall spending dropped 0.1 per cent in April – despite the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends that would have been expected to boost consumption – clothing and footwear was down a far more substantial 2.5 per cent for the month. There was a notable bounce back in Queensland, though, as households spent more following the destruction caused by Cyclone Alfred. "Queensland retailers recovered from last month's temporary business closures and fewer customers," Ewing said. Spending in Queensland picked up following the disruption and damage caused by Cyclone Alfred the month before. (Getty) "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." The ABS also released new data on the number of housing approvals, which have fallen to their lowest level since last August, and remain nowhere near the level required to meet the federal government's 2029 targets. "Even on a three-month annualised basis, approvals are running at around 187,000 per annum (which is an 18 per cent increase from the 2023 trough, but 26 per cent below the peak in 2021)," AMP economist My Bui said. "The key to getting housing approvals (as well as housing completions) up is to have more units in the mix, rather than detached houses. "At the peak, units accounted for about half of all approvals, but in April only 35 per cent of building approvals were units. "With Australia's chronic undersupply issue, we should be building roughly 240,000 dwelling units per year – similar to the number targeted in the national housing accord... it is now much harder to see the target being met." CONTACT US Property News: 'Stressful': Perth mum's dilemma after rental mix-up.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Retail trade falls despite long-weekends
Australians are still not spending despite back-to-back public holidays in April, official figures show. The latest figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows retail sales fell by 0.1 per cent in the month of April despite having two holidays. This follows growth of 0.3 per cent in March 2025 and 0.2 per cent in February 2025. Food-related spending was up, with growth in cafes, restaurants and takeway services growing 1.1 per cent to be the standout. ABS head of business statistics Robert Ewing said retail spending eased in April, particluarly on clothing. 'Falls were partly offset by a bounce-back in Queensland as businesses recovered from the negative impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month,' he said '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,'Mr Ewing said. There were mixed results across the industries with the largest falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing down 2.5 per cent while department stores also slumped 2.5 per cent. This was partially offset by rises in other retailing up 0.7 per cent and household goods retailing which rose 0.6 per cent. '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. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Spending fall below estimates, as holidays fail to lift consumer spending
Australians are still not spending despite back-to-back public holidays in April, official figures show. The latest figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows retail sales fell by 0.1 per cent in the month of April despite having two holidays. This follows growth of 0.3 per cent in March 2025 and 0.2 per cent in February 2025. Food-related spending was up, with growth in cafes, restaurants and takeway services growing 1.1 per cent to be the standout. ABS head of business statistics Robert Ewing said retail spending eased in April, particluarly on clothing. 'Falls were partly offset by a bounce-back in Queensland as businesses recovered from the negative impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month,' he said '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,'Mr Ewing said. There were mixed results across the industries with the largest falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing down 2.5 per cent while department stores also slumped 2.5 per cent. This was partially offset by rises in other retailing up 0.7 per cent and household goods retailing which rose 0.6 per cent. '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.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Retail trade falls despite long-weekends
Australians are still not spending despite back-to-back public holidays in April, official figures show. The latest figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows retail sales fell by 0.1 per cent in the month of April despite having two holidays. This follows growth of 0.3 per cent in March 2025 and 0.2 per cent in February 2025. Food-related spending was up, with growth in cafes, restaurants and takeway services growing 1.1 per cent to be the standout. ABS head of business statistics Robert Ewing said retail spending eased in April, particluarly on clothing. 'Falls were partly offset by a bounce-back in Queensland as businesses recovered from the negative impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month,' he said '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,'Mr Ewing said. A general view of Australians shoppers NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia There were mixed results across the industries with the largest falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing down 2.5 per cent while department stores also slumped 2.5 per cent. This was partially offset by rises in other retailing up 0.7 per cent and household goods retailing which rose 0.6 per cent. '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.
