Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services are driving retail trade up, according to new data released today.

The latest Retail Trade figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that retail sales increased 0.7 per cent in July, seasonally adjusted, compared with an increase of 0.4 per cent the previous month.

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, which jumped 5.3 per cent, recorded the largest seasonally adjusted rise in July. This was followed by Other retailing with 1.4 per cent, Food retailing with 0.4 per cent and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing with 0.2 per cent increase.

Sales in Household goods retailing decreased 1.7 per cent in July after a strong result in June. Department stores likewise shed 0.7 per cent.

Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales recorded the largest seasonally adjusted increases in July, gaining 1.7, 1.5 and 0.6 per cent, respectively. South Australia, which edged up 0.3 per cent and the Northern Territory, adding a moderate 0.2 per cent, followed.

Sales in Western Australia (-1.8 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (-0.7 per cent) and Tasmania (-0.3 per cent) decreased in July.

Trend turnover increased 0.4 per cent in July 2010. This follows a 0.4 per cent increase in both June 2010 and May 2010. In the twelve months to July 2010 trend turnover increased 3.8 per cent

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics