Lockdown recovery drives record 8.2% quarterly rise in retail sales: Australia

Australian retail sales volumes rose a record 8.2 per cent in the December quarter 2021, seasonally adjusted, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This follows a 4.4 per cent fall in the September quarter 2021.

Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Statistics, said the 8.2 per cent increase in retail sales volumes is the strongest quarterly rise on record, surpassing the previous record set in the September 2020 quarter. Sales volumes are now at their highest quarterly level of the series, up 3.4 per cent on the June quarter 2021, and 3.6 per cent through the year.

“Consumers enthusiastically returned to discretionary spending following the end of Delta related lockdowns in October, and the continued easing of restrictions over the quarter. Well publicised concerns over product availability and delivery timeliness led to consumers bringing forward their end of year shopping, in conjunction with a re-opening spending splurge due to pent up consumer demand.

“This post lockdown recovery aligns well with the previous nationwide Covid lockdown recovery in the September quarter 2020 where sales rose 6.3 per cent, more than recovering the losses of the June 2020 quarter fall of 3.5 per cent” Mr James said.

/ABS Public Release. View in full here.