The Australian Bureau of Statistics released retail performance data for the September quarter and the headline run by news outlets was overall good. For data about our channel you need to drill further into the ABS report:
OTHER RETAILING
In current prices, the trend estimate for Other retailing rose 0.1% in September 2013. The seasonally adjusted estimate rose 1.6%. By industry subgroup, the trend estimate rose for Pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry goods retailing (0.4%) and Other recreational goods retailing (0.7%) and fell for Other retailing n.e.c. (-0.2%) and Newspaper and book retailing (-0.5%). The seasonally adjusted estimate rose for Pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry goods retailing (3.1%), Other recreational goods retailing (2.4%) and Other retailing n.e.c. (0.4%) and fell for Newspaper and book retailing (-1.4%).
The state by state breakdown for overall retailing is interesting:
Turnover rose in New South Wales (1.0 per cent), Victoria (1.0 per cent), Queensland (0.8 per cent), South Australia (0.7 per cent), Tasmania (0.7 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (0.7 per cent) and the Northern Territory (0.7 per cent). These rises were partially offset by a fall in Western Australia (-0.2 per cent). Over the longer term, Victoria was the strongest contributor to growth (up 0.5 per cent in trend terms).
The most important benchmark for newsagents is how their business performed this year compared to last year.
I thought the following was worth a note.
Rear window of FR today has an interesting post.
Russell Mahoney, former press secretary to Julia Gillard, has joined Woolworths as head of communications for their supermarket division. He joins Claire Kimball, Tony Abbots former press secretary. Their boss is Peter McConnell, Barry O’Farrell’s former chief of staff. Rear window sums up beautifully “Sounds like they’ve got all bases covered”
How much political capital does ANF have. I suspect very little. Too busy on their commercial ventures.
Classic case of fiddling while Rome burns.
Yes there is an insidious mix between Politicians Spin Doctors and Spin Doctors working for Coles and Woolies. They recycle the same names well between themselves. It I believe gives Coles and Woolies an inestimable benifit.
At the top levels of labor, liberal, union and lobbying they’re all mates.
This post, though, seeks to address the spin out yesterday and today that retail numbers are great. They are for some, including some newsagents. But realistically, the channel is sick.