According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, retail turnover grew in line with predictions of 0.3 per cent in April. Household goods in particular were the star performers.

The entire retail sector held solid ground in April, showing a 0.3 per cent increase from March, and according to Margy Osmond CEO of the Australian National Retailers Association, around $19.3 billion was spent in the sector over the period.

“Across the country, $19.3 billion went through retailers’ tills in April, that’s $56 million more than in March. Access economics estimates the Government’s handouts contributed $615 million to sales in April,” she said.

But overall the majority of sectors in the industry underperformed, with household goods the only sector to show considerable growth.

Household goods retailing grew 3.9 per cent in April, this is compared to modest growths in clothing and soft goods of 0.8 per cent and declines for food retailing (-0.2%), department stores (-2.8%) and restaurants and takeaways (-0.5%).

Australian Retailers Association, executive director, Richard Evans, commented that this inconsistency was due to low consumer confidence and increased available spend.

“With low interest rates and lower petrol prices, consumers are cashed up but their confidence is still being dampened by negative economic rhetoric which is reflected in inconsistent spending across the sector,” he said.

The strong growth in the household goods category on the other hand does provide a good indication that consumers are slowly starting to spend again.

“April’s growth in household goods retailing indicated cashed-up consumers were slowly coming out of financial hibernation without guilt and spending money on purchases they have been delaying over the past,” he said.

Evans also highlighted that due to the increase of first home owners the category should see continued growth.

“The household goods sector, including bigger ticket items like furniture and whitegoods, could also see improved growth in May figures with first home owners rushing to take advantage of the Government grant and furnishing new homes.”