Recent improved momentum in online sales maintained in December – with trends positive for most categories – strength in Electronic Games and Toys, Groceries and Liquor, and Media. Online spending up to $14.7 billion in the past year.

• In the year to December 2013, Australians spent $14.7 billion on online retail. This level is equivalent to 6.5% of spending with traditional bricks & mortar retailers (excluding cafés, restaurants and takeaway food to create a like-for-like comparison) in the year to November.
• The NAB Online Retail Sales Index increased modestly in December – to a seasonally adjusted 240 points (from 237 points in November).
• Online retail sales continued to grow in December. In seasonally adjusted three month moving average terms online sales expanded 1.58% (from a 1.65% increase in November). The recent growth comes after the relatively flat August to October period, and is more on par with the growth seen in July.
• Sales growth for traditional bricks & mortar retail has improved in recent months, maintaining momentum of about +0.6%, in November (seasonally adjusted, 3 month moving average basis).
• The improved growth trend for online retail sales reflects almost uniform improvement in conditions at the category level. In year-on-year terms, the online index grew +12.6%, an acceleration on the November result (+11.2%). Particular strength was observed in Electronic Games and Toys category (+32%), a likely beneficiary of new games console releases and subscriptions. Groceries and Liquor (+24%) was also stronger, though Media (+21%) experienced slower growth. Personal & Recreational Goods (-1%YoY) was the only category to experience a contraction, albeit an improvement on the November result.

For further analysis download the full report.

• Online Retail Sales Index monthly update – December 2013 (PDF, 63KB)