Data Diary

Just hadn’t got round to uploading the chart – so here it is:

Australian retail sales for March 2010 also confirm a slowing thirst for spending (see the original release from the ABS here): With the assistance of last year’s taxpayer funded handouts a hazy hangover memory, and the recent cold-light-of-day interest rate rises a near term reality, it’s to be expected that retail sales would be tailing [...]

Playing catch-up – so for posterity (well, more for my records) following are the ABS data on Australian retail sales released last week (you can find the ABS release here). The retail sector is clearly lagging the feel-good story emanating from the real estate industry. In my view, the incremental increases in household debt will [...]

Also, released today were Retail Sales for January. Following is the summary from the ABS: CURRENT PRICES The trend estimate increased 0.4% in January 2010. This follows a 0.4% increase in December 2009 and a 0.4% increase in November 2009. The seasonally adjusted estimate increased 1.2% in January 2010. This follows a 0.9% decrease in [...]

Australian Dec 2010 retail sales were soft. With the effects of the cash handouts fading, expect retail sales to continue to weaken as we move deep into the new year.