The latest Retail Trade figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate retail sales edged up 0.2 per cent in June, seasonally adjusted, compared with an increase of 0.2 per cent the previous month.

Household Goods Retailing, at 1.3 per cent, recorded the largest seasonally adjusted gain in June followed by Department Stores and Cafes, Restaurants & Takeaway Food Services both at 0.6 per cent. Other Retailing recorded a 0.3 per cent rise. Sales in Clothing, Footwear and Other Personal Accessory Retailing went down 1.2 per cent in June after a strong result in May. Food Retailing also recorded 0.3 per cent decline in sales.

Victoria with 0.6 per cent, the Australian Capital Territory with 0.5 per cent, and New South Wales with 0.4 per cent recorded the largest seasonally adjusted increases in June. The Northern Territory followed with 0.2 per cent. Queensland and Western Australia both remained unchanged in June. Sales in South Australia and Tasmania both decreased in June by 1 and 0.9 per cent, respectively.

Trend turnover edged up 0.3 per cent in June this year. This follows a 0.2 per cent rise in both May and April. In the twelve months to June 2010, trend turnover ascended 3.2 per cent

Turnover volume climbed 0.8 per cent, seasonally adjusted, in the June quarter, according to ABS.