Online sales fell 1.4 per cent in July 2015

• At -1.4% the latest seasonally adjusted nab online retail sales index shows sales growth contracted in July, a deterioration on the revised 2.3% growth recorded in June. At 0.6%, the trend estimate for online retail sales was unchanged on the previous month (0.6%). We estimate that online sales are now 6.2% higher compared to a year ago.

• ABS data showed growth of comparable traditional retailers (ex. Cafes and Restaurants) in June to be 0.6% (mom, s.a.) higher than May, and 5.2% higher than a year ago.

• In dollar terms, we estimate Australians spent $17.4 billion on online retail in the 12 months to July 2015. This level is equivalent to 7.1% of spending at traditional bricks & mortar retailers as measured by the ABS (excluding cafés, restaurants and takeaway food, to create a like-for-like comparison) in the 12 months to June 2015.

• In year on year terms, all categories except daily deals (-25.2% yoy) recorded growth in July. Growth accelerated in online sales of grocery & liquor (+7.4% yoy) and personal & recreational goods in July (4.3% yoy from -0.5% in June). Though slowing from the previous month, electronic games and toys still leads growth (19.2% yoy), followed by media (13.9% yoy), and homewares and appliances (+11.7% yoy), with fashion recording high single digit growth (+8.6% yoy). Department and variety stores saw much slower growth than the prior month (+1.9%).

For further analysis download the full report.

• NAB Online Retail Sales Index: Monthly update – July 2015 (PDF 65KB)