Retail trade strengthens in August

Retail trade rose for the sixth straight month in August but the pace of the gains has eased.  

Sales were up 0.3 per cent for the month compared to a rise of 0.7 per cent in July according to the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services were the best performers, up 1.5 per cent.

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailers were the biggest losers, slipping 1.5 per cent during the period.

Western Australia recorded the strongest state rise at 1.1 per cent, followed by NSW and the ACT at 0.7 per cent. The Northern Territory fared the worst with a 0.5 per cent decrease in August.