Online sales growth edges up in September – to +0.3% mom (from even weaker sales in August). Sales trends mixed by category (stronger in Media, Food, Department & Variety Stores and Fashion, but contractions elsewhere).

• In the year to September 2013, Australia’s online retail spending totaled $14.3 billion. This amount is equivalent to 6.3% of the traditional bricks & mortar retail sector (excluding cafés, restaurants and takeaway food to create a like-for-like comparison) in the twelve months to August 2013.
• The NAB Online Retail Sales Index rose in September – up to 230 points (on a seasonally adjusted basis) from 226 points in August.
• Growth in online retail sales was marginally stronger in September (following a sharp slowdown in August). In monthly terms, seasonally adjusted sales rose by +0.3% (on a three month moving average basis, to reduce the volatility in monthly rates) – compared with  -0.1% in August.
• Sales growth for traditional bricks & mortar retail was unchanged in August – at +0.1% (on a seasonally adjusted, three month moving average basis), the same level as July.
• Online sales trends remain quite mixed at the sub-sector level. In year-on-year terms, the rates of growth edged up to 10.7% – the second slowest rate of growth observed in the index (from 9.1% in August – the slowest rate). Year-on-year growth was observed in Media, Groceries & Liquor, Department & Variety Stores and Fashion, while sales contracted in Personal & Recreational Goods, Daily Deals, Homewares & Appliances and Toys & Electronic Games.

For further analysis download the full report.

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