The Australian Bureau of Statistics said, the total value of retail sales in Australia was down a seasonally adjusted 0.4% on month in December. This follows a rise of 0.5% in November 2018. Sales were expected to decline 0.1%.

The trend estimate rose 0.2% in December 2018. This follows a rise of 0.2% in November 2018 and a rise of 0.2% in October 2018.

In trend terms, Australian turnover rose 3.2% in December 2018 compared with December 2017.

The following industries rose in trend terms in December 2018: Food retailing (0.2%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.3%), Other retailing (0.1%), Cafes restaurants and takeaway food services (0.1%), and Department stores (0.1%). Household goods retailing was relatively unchanged (0.0%).

In volume terms, the trend estimate for Australian turnover rose 0.3% in the December quarter 2018.