August 31, 2016

NAB Online Retail Sales Index: July 2016

Online sales down by 0.36% in July 2016

Online sales down by 0.36% in July 2016

  • NAB Online Retail Sales Index declined by 0.36% in July according to the latest seasonally adjusted month on month data. Year on year growth however remains in double digits with 11.8% growth in sales. The revised trend estimate for online retail sales remains slow, currently sitting at below 1%.
  • ABS data on traditional retailers showed a month on month seasonally adjusted growth of 0.1% and year on year growth of 3.5% in June.
  • Australian consumers have spent around $20.4 billion over the last 12 months till July 2016. This is equivalent to 6.8% of spending at traditional bricks & mortar retailers as measured by the ABS in the 12 months to June 2016.
  • Sectors with a digital distribution model led the line in growth this month with Media (33% yoy vs 23.4% yoy in June) and Games and Toys (35.8% yoy vs 24.5% yoy) growing the fastest.
  • Sales growth slowed for Fashion (8% yoy vs 19.2% yoy), Homeware and Appliances (0.2% yoy vs 0.6% yoy), Personal and Recreational Goods (22.0% yoy vs 26% yoy), Groceries and Liquor (1.1% yoy vs 9.5% yoy) and Food Catering (48.4% yoy vs 56.3% yoy).
  • Growth contracted in Daily Deals (-5.3% yoy vs 2.6% yoy) and Department and Variety Stores (-6.3% yoy vs 3% yoy).
  • SME sales represents just over a third of all online sales (35.7%). Previously, SMEs have outpaced Corporates in terms of month on month growth. This month however saw SMEs contracting by 1.3% as compared to Corporates’ contraction of 0.4%. When comparing year on year growth, SMEs (17.3% yoy) are still growing faster than Corporates (11.8% yoy).