The following is an unedited transcript of the news release from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.


TREND ESTIMATES

The trend estimate of turnover for the Australian Retail and Hospitality/Services series increased by 0.2% in March 2008. This follows an increase of 0.2% in February 2008 and a revised increase of 0.2% in January 2008.

In March 2008, industries that had an increase in the trend estimate were Food retailing (+0.3%), Department stores (+0.2%), Recreational good retailing (+1.1%) and Other retailing (+0.6%). Household good retailing (-0.2%) and Hospitality and services (-0.3%) had a decline in the trend estimate.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES

The seasonally adjusted estimate of turnover for the Australian Retail and Hospitality/Services series increased by 0.5% in March 2008. This follows a decrease of 0.1% in February 2008 and a revised no change in January 2008.

All industries, except Food retailing and Household good retailing (both +1.7%), had a decrease in the seasonally adjusted estimate in March 2008.

ORIGINAL ESTIMATES

In original terms, Australian turnover increased by 6.1% in March 2008 compared with February 2008. Chains and other large retailers (which are completely enumerated) increased by 8.9%, while the estimate for ''smaller'' retailers (the sampled units) increased by 2.4%.

Australian turnover increased by 3.0% in March 2008 compared with March 2007. Chains and other large retailers increased by 6.3%, while ''smaller'' retailers decreased by 1.4%.

VOLUME MEASURES

The trend volume measure of turnover increased by 0.9% in the March quarter 2008. This follows a 1.0% increase in the December quarter 2007. In seasonally adjusted terms, the volume measure decreased by 0.1% in the March quarter 2008.


Available at:

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8501.0