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Retail Sales figures from multiple countries were released in the past few days including Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Poland, Taiwan, Denmark, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand (NZ).
With the coronavirus pandemic impacting on all Retail Sales, newly released data shows that many countries could bounce back after the lockdown restriction.
Here is a quick look at the data.
Stats NZ has released figures showing New Zealand Retail Sales recovery in the September 2020 quarter.
For the September 2020 quarter compared with the September 2019 quarter the total value of NZ Retail Sales (with price effects included) rose 7.4 percent ($1.8 billion) and the total volume of retail sales rose 8.3 percent
Stat NZ said retail sales values recorded its largest September quarter rise since the series began in 1995.
Furthermore, spending on major household items, vehicles, and groceries contributed to the strong rise in total retail sales compared with the September 2019 quarter.
The report stated this quarter’s rise indicates a recovery for retail businesses, but it does not make up for the historic fall of 15 percent ($3.6 billion) in the COVID-19-affected June 2020 quarter.
New Zealand Retail sales report provides an aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a specific time period.
Twelve of the 15 industries had higher sales values in the September 2020 quarter compared with the September 2019 quarter.
With price effects included, the main movements by industry were:
Fuel retailing had the largest fall, down 8.1 percent ($176 million), followed by accommodation, down 12 percent ($110 million).
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Retail trade survey: September 2020 quarter, November 23, 2020. Reproduced and distributed on an “as is” basis with the permission of Stats NZ.
The latest figures released by Statistics Canada shows that Canada Retail Sales rose 1.1% to $53.9 billion in September, the fifth consecutive monthly increase since the record decline in April.
Core retail sales, which excludes gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, also rose 1.1%, on higher sales at general merchandise stores and food and beverage stores.
Retail sales were up, in volume terms, sales were up 1.1% in September.
Rounding out the third quarter, retail sales were up 22.6% compared with the second quarter. In volume terms, retail sales rose 21.5%.
Source: Statistics Canada, Retail trade, September 2020, November 20, 2020. Reproduced and distributed on an “as is” basis with the permission of Statistics Canada.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its preliminary monthly aggregate estimates of retail turnover in Australia.
The figures from Australia Retail Sales showed that the seasonally adjusted estimate rose 1.6% ($460.5m) from September 2020 to October 2020.
It is also highlights that the seasonally adjusted terms, Australian turnover rose 7.3% in October 2020 compared with October 2019. Excluding Victoria, sales are 11.9% higher than October 2019.
Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services led the rises, although there were also rises for Other retailing, and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing. Household goods retailing was relatively unchanged, maintaining recent strength.
Victoria led the rises in all industries, except for Food retailing, as stores reopened throughout October. Victoria saw a rise of 5.2%, although it remains 5.7% below the levels of October 2019
NSW rose 1.6% after falls in August and September 2020. Western Australia led the rises in annual terms, with turnover 15.1% above October 2019.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020, November 20). Retail Trade, Australia, Preliminary. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Government. Retrieved November 20, 2020. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/retail-and-wholesale-trade/retail-trade-australia-preliminary/oct-2020
The ONS Office for National Statistics released data for UK retail sales October 2020.
The ONS reported that there an increase of 5.8% year-on-year growth(YoY) rate for UK retails sales and that “the feedback from a range of businesses suggesting that consumers had started Christmas shopping earlier this year”.
The data is an estimate of retail sales in volume and value terms, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted in Great Britain for October 2020.
Compared to last month, September, retail sales volumes increased by 1.2% which made it the sixth consecutive month of growth for the Retail Industry.
The ONS further reported the “total retail sales values (excluding fuel) increased by 7.9% when compared with February which was driven by a strong increase in sales online at 52.8% in comparison to reduced store sales at negative 3.3%” and that “growth in the volume of sales for non-store retailing at 6.4%, household goods stores at 3.2% and department stores at 3.1%”.
Source: ONS
