In trend terms, retail turnover rose by 2.9% ($162 million) in Western Australia in the three months to October 2006, compared to the previous three month period. The rise was slightly up on the 2.8% ($155 million) increase in the three months to July 2006. It was also more than double the national rise in retail turnover of 1.4% in the last three months, a rate which had dropped from 1.7% in the three months to July 2006.
It appears as though the recent interest rate increases by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) have had less of an effect on consumer spending in Western Australia than across Australia as a whole. The RBA lifted official interest rates by 25 basis points in May (5.75%), August (6.00%) and November (6.25%) 2006.
Growth in Western Australia's retail turnover in the three months to October 2006 was primarily driven by the industry groups of other retailing (up $41 million or 8.3%) and Household good retailing (up $38 million or 3.6%). Other retailing includes items such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toiletries, antiques and used goods, garden supplies, flowers, and watches and jewellery.
All the other industry groups contributed to the rise in retail turnover in the state, with the most prominent being Hospitality and services (up $24 million or 3.4%), Food retailing (up $23 million or 0.9%) and Clothing and soft good retailing (up $22 million or 6.7%).