Positive signs for retail as rises continue

Australian retail sales rose 0.2% in February, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The slight rise in retail figures followed a 0.3% increase in January.

Department store sales were up 0.7%, and food retailing rose 0.3%.

Sales in clothing, footwear and personal accessories dropped 1.4%.

Turnover for cafes, restaurants and takeaway businesses fell 0.7%, and household goods purchases fell 0.5%.

The resource states were the largest contributors to the rise, with Queensland up 1.5% and Western Australia up 1%.  South Australia rose 0.7%.

Retail sales fell in New South Wales, Victoria, ACT down and Tasmania while the Northern Territory was unchanged.