| About CMS | Forex Services | Trading Software | Forex Education | Forex Resources | My Account |
Main Indicator: Retail Sales m/m
Most Recent Release
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.7% | 0.1% | -0.1% | -0.2% | ||
|
For May (s.a.)
Retail sales were up 0.7% for May, beating expectations of a slightly positive increase. The shopping spree by consumers will raise eyebrows as the central bank expects domestic demand to cool and bring down inflation. If consumers are able to spend with 12-year high interest rates, policy members may have to consider raising rates again this year. Industries that led the increase include food, recreational goods, and other retail items such as jewelery and cosmetics. A recent tax cut that was introduced may have had a psychological effect, though it will bring consumers about $80 extra per month. The Aussie rose following the news as the data changes perception of how much the economy will cool on its own without extra moves by the RBA members. |
|||||
Table of Past Data
| 10/2 | 10/31 | 12/3 | 1/8 | 2/4 | 3/3 | 4/3 | 5/1 | 6/1 | 7/1 | ||
| Actual | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.0% | -0.1% | 0.5% | -0.2% | 0.7% | |
| Forecast | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% | |
| Previous | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% | -0.1% | -0.1% | 0.2% | -0.1% | |
| Revised From | 0.9% | N/A | 0.8% | 0.2% | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | N/A | 0.5% | -0.2% | |
Past Releases
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.5% | ||
|
For April (s.a.)
Retail sales fell 0.2% for the month of April, and March's total was revised down to show a 0.2% increase from the originally reports 0.5%. Food sales were inflated for the March period as Easter came in early, and taking food sales out of the equation would put retail sales into positive territory. Lower spending by consumers would actually benefit the RBA's plans as it means high interest rates are cooling domestic demand and will hopefully lead to lower inflation. The country is about to have a reduction in taxes in July, and may spur extra spending. |
|||||
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.5% | 0.3% | -0.1% | N/A | ||
|
For March (s.a.)
Retail Sales rebounded from February's negative measure to post a 0.5% increase in March.
|
|||||
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -0.1% | 0.3% | -0.1% | 0.0% | ||
|
For February (s.a.)
Official Release from Australian Bureau of Statistics Australia's interest rate hike for the past year has caught up to tighten monetary conditions and curb economic growth. Retail sales sagged 0.1% in February, while January's flat reading was revised to a decline of 0.1% as well. January's revised decline was the first drop in eight months. The Australian dollar was pressured after the report, but paired those losses, especially against an ailing Greenback that was pressured even more by US's poor employment data. |
|||||
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | N/A | ||
|
For January (s.a.)
Retail sales in Australia stalled in January after seven months of increases. The implication may be that consumers are absorbing higher interest rates and are less inclined to spend. The Australian economy has been humming along recently as record prices for its exports helped fuel low unemployment though at the same time a tighter labor market has pushed up wages and overall inflation. This may a be a sign that the economy might be peaking. In the announcement from the Reserve Bank of Australia, Governor Stevens noted that housing was seeing some slowdown, and that consumers may be feeling the effects of higher rates. GDP growth, which is released tomorrow may show growth increasing at a slower pace than in the 3rd quarter, as has been evident around the globe. |
|||||
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.8% | N/A | ||
|
For December (s.a.)
Retail sales cooled from November to December, posting a 0.5% change for the month. Retail sales have posted 7 consecutive months of gains. |
|||||
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% | ||
|
For November (S.A.) Official Release from Australian Bureau of Statistics Retail turnover was up to 20.1AUD in November. Sales were driven by hospitality and services(+2.0%), clothing and soft goods retailing (+0.9%), household goods (+0.7%), and other retailing (+1.8%). Recreational goods retailing offset some growth falling 1.7%. Overall, the Australian economy is reaffirming its momentum and recent fundamental releases have been putting positive pressure for the Aussie. |
|||||
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.8% | ||
|
For October (SA) Australia saw a A$19.9B seasonally adjusted turnover in retail sales for October. The largest increase came from recreational goods sales, up 7.0%. Clothing and soft goods also contributed, gaining 2.7% in sales. |
|||||
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.7% | N/A |
|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.9% | ||
|
Seasonally adjusted for August. Economists were calling for a larger drop in retail sales, as consumer confidence has recently been low, and August's financial market turmoil might have restrained spending in the economy. The data fell from last month, but still surprised on the upside. In June, growth was 1.4%. |
|||||