Australian Retail Sales Maintain Positive Momentum – Up 2.6% in February
Monthly KRI Summary
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Discover key insights in the latest Australian Kepler Retail Market Index for February 2025.
Comparison Period: The following insights are based on comparing the four-week retail month of January this year (27 Jan – 23 Feb 2025) to the same period last year (29 Jan – 25 Feb 2024).
Foot Traffic Trends:
- Passer-by traffic rose 1.1% YoY in February, marking three consecutive months of growth – the first time we’ve seen this sustained momentum since mid-2022, post-pandemic.
- Inside traffic also increased 1.1% YoY, continuing its own three-month growth streak.
Sales Conversion Performance:
- Sales conversion remained weak, down 0.5% YoY, but this was a significant recovery from January’s 4.6% YoY decline.
- The downward trend in Sales conversion has now stretched four consecutive months.
- Valentine’s Day week provided a strong boost to conversion rates, particularly in Health, Beauty & Wellness and Homewares & Manchester.
Transactions:
- Transaction volumes were up 0.6% YoY in February, as the increase in inside traffic helped offset weaker sales conversion.
Average Transaction Values (ATVs):
- ATVs grew 2.2% YoY in February and have averaged 2.4% YoY growth over the past three months.
- While price increases have played a role, retailers have also successfully increased the number of items per transaction in recent months.
Sales Performance:
- Overall sales grew 2.6% YoY in February and are now up 0.4% YoY over the last 12 months.
- Since the start of the financial year, monthly sales have grown every month-except for November, which was impacted by the later Black Friday timing.
- The top-performing categories during Valentine’s Day week were Watch & Jewellery and Health, Beauty & Wellness.
About Kepler’s Retail Market Index
- Kepler’s Retail Market Index provides the most insightful and most timely view of retail industry performance across both Australia and New Zealand
- The index is based on anonymised data from Kepler’s Retail Foot Traffic Solution customers, primarily non-food specialty retailers
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Black Friday and Christmas Trade Results
We are excited to present our latest Australian Retail Market Update, offering key insights into retail performance throughout 2024, including the pivotal Black Friday and Christmas trading period. Additionally, this update provides ideas to foster sales growth in 2025.
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