September ABS results…The retailer state of origin

The rugby season may be over, but the state competition is still on….and it’s Western Australia retail who is taking the win.

Year on Year retail continues to be flat against CPI at 2.33% for September, while MAT for 2011 is performing much the same at 2.12%. But although this is not new news for most, the divide in growth across Australia highlights that this mundane performance is not necessary the true story.

Overall YOY September results show:
  • NSW, VIC & SA are suffering on the sidelines performing under CPI at 0.79%, 1.7% and -0.13% respectively
  • QLD show their usual level of resistance at 3.42%
  • TAS & NT reflect the market average at 1.83% and 2.55%
  • WA are wiping away the competition at 7.96%

What’s driving these results?

NSW residents are drinking their sorrows away with liquor growing at 13.77%, while SA (-5.3%) and ACT are as dry as a bone (-16.78%)



VIC still love their food with specialised up by 14.88% and WA following suit at 14.91%, but the rest of Australia are saving their tastes on the less exotic with NSW (-5.85%), SA (-20.30) and ACT (-27.75) seeing declines

Furniture and floor coverings have seen a massive surge of activity in WA (40%) while ACT (18.97%) and VIC (14.12%) also perform well…but NSW is seeing a little less of this action at 3.55% and QLD at -3.34%

Clothing retail is dismal across the country, except for TAS (41.32%) versus NSW (-9.46%), VIC (-8.18%) and SA (-14.32%). While footwear and fashion accessories are popular in SA (21.49%), but see no action anywhere else (NSW: -20.25%, WA: -19.35%, TAS -22.54%, QLD: -8.48%)


IMAGE: http://ventureheatedclothing.typepad.com/blog/venture-heated-jacket/


The NT and NSW are buying more newspapers and books at 21.74% and 5.43% respectively, but no one else is at WA: -24.68%, VIC -12.19% an ACT -39.53%

While Queensland (-1.39%) and NT (-18.97%) are as fit as a horse with pharmacy growth down versus NSW (12.72%), WA (14.7%) and TAS (26.74%)

Finally our eating habits are different too, with NSW rejecting takeaways at -20.87% in favor of dining out (5.93%) while the rest of Australia see’s double digit growth in the space



So the verdict… overall retail is performing at CPI with a few category exceptions, but WA is certainly set to take the cup for most impressive player this month!

If you would like to understand your category in more detail, your relative performance, or how to better engage your consumer, RetailOasis has extensive retail experience and can assist you with future business development based on rigorous quantitative analysis and insights. Contact Steve Kulmar or Nerida Jenkins at RetailOasis on +612 9976 6222 or follow the link below to order a report

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