Nationwide retail sales have rebounded from the February fall according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade preliminary report for March released today. Turnover across Australia rose by 1.4 per cent in March with the resurgence led by Victoria and Western Australia, states that both experienced hard lockdowns in February.

A leading courier service is urging retailers to get Christmas-ready, after conducting research that reveals two-thirds of Australian shoppers are planning to purchase gifts months ahead of Christmas.

Australian retailers are facing a volatile retail environment, with monthly swings in spending and an enormous gulf in performance by sector and across states. Total spending slumped in the June quarter, but a solid performance in June and July suggests stronger momentum in  the September quarter.